Jina Kim
Inclusive Elementary and Special Education '12
Hometown: Dix Hills, NY
Why did you choose the School of Education at SU?
I chose the School of Education at SU because I knew that it would give me the best resources to become the educator I want to be. I looked at many other schools before deciding to attend SU, and this School of Education had the best, most intensive program. I immediately felt comfortable with the faculty here. They were warm, welcoming, and I knew that they would helpful to me throughout my college career as well as when I enter the field of teaching.
However, what influenced me the most to attend the School of Education at SU was the emphasis on inclusion. No other school I considered had so strongly believed in the idea of inclusion nor made so many advances in making inclusion happen daily in schools around the nation. I wanted to be part of this movement, and so I knew that I had to be educated at Syracuse University.
What has been the most valuable learning experience in your time here?
My field placements - At my various placements, I had the freedom to make mistakes, try a new strategy, and continue learning about myself as an educator. I received so much constructive criticism and developed real relationships with my host teachers and students. I learned so much more than I ever would have from a book, and I know that I am a better teacher because of my experiences at actual schools in actual classrooms. It’s one thing to simply sit there and learn about teaching strategies and ideas in a course, but a completely different story when an opportunity is presented to immediately apply what was learned in a classroom with real students. I was initially terrified of student teaching, but now that I am only a sophomore with more than 200 hours of being in a real classroom under my belt for this semester alone, I know that I will be more than ready by the time I become a student teacher.
What are your plans for when you leave SU?
When I leave SU, I plan on working either near my hometown while attending graduate school, or traveling to Korea to teach for a couple of years to gain some experience in teaching in another country.
What is a favorite memory of your SU School of Education experience?
My favorite memory from the SU School of Education is my first portfolio presentation. At the end of Block I, all of the students as well as some professors and graduate students gathered to have a celebration and present our work on what we did and learned throughout the semester. There was a pizza/candy party to start off the celebration, and then we separated into small groups to present our portfolios. I was extremely nervous when I gave my first presentation, but I could tell that everyone was supporting me. It was encouraging, and I received helpful comments on what I could do to improve myself as a teacher. The experience reminded me that teaching is a constant journey of collaborative learning as even the most distinguished faculty members expressed that they could still grow as educators and learn from their students.