Educational Goals
I have always believed that a bachelor's degree is the minimum educational requirement. Recently, however, I have begun to shift my focus to a master's degree. If I decide to continue my education, I will apply for CSUF's online master's degree program in software engineering (although I am considering alternatives). In the meantime, my focus is entirely on this bachelor's degree program. For the next 96 weeks my goals will be to complete my assignments, maintain a high GPA, and never let my team down. Even though we've just begun, it feels motivational to know I will be graduating next year.
Career Goals
Due to recent events in my life, I have decided that I want to be a teacher. It excites me to think about teaching introductory math or computer science. I believe our community needs more teachers, and I feel as though my unique life experiences can bring a lot to the table when teaching and mentoring young adults. With a bachelor's degree I can teach high school, adult school, or in prison. With a master's degree I can teach community college. I have no desire to go farther than that because I want to focus on at-risk groups, e.g. students who may be on the verge of going down the wrong path in life. I believe people can be saved with the right education and mentorship.
ETS Computer Science Test
The ETS Major Field Test for Computer Science looks like it will provide a good assessment of my overall computer science knowledge. I am worried that there is a 2 hour time limit, but it helps that the questions are all multiple choice. If I were to blindly take the test right now, I'd probably (hopefully) get in the 70% range. I hope that in 18 months I can be somewhere closer to 90%. Discrete mathematics will be the toughest area for me and it makes up a significant portion of the exam.
Keeping Up
I have never thought about personal mission statements. I have seen summaries or statements of purpose on resumes and professional sites, but I don't recall being instructed to make statements which include personal values and beliefs. This week I formed a mission statement using the provided tips:
To seek liberty through truth, to spread truth through education, and to set an example for my family and my community.
Hi Michael. I think it's great you're preparing for graduate school, I still can't decide if I'd like to pursue a master's but since you're looking to become a teacher that is exactly the right thing to do! I have considered teaching in the past too, but I don't think it would be right for me. I think it's awesome that you want to teach though and not only that, but focus on at-risk groups as well is amazing. I see you aren't set on a grad school yet. If you'd like to stay in the CSU system, you can search many different majors and filter for online only programs here: https://www2.calstate.edu/attend/degrees-certificates-credentials/Pages/search-degrees.aspx
ReplyDeleteHi Michael, I like that you have your end goal in your sites. I have not looked into getting a master's degree, but its good to know there is an online option. Your enthusiasm in learning and in the idea of teaching tells me this would be good role for you. Good luck in your future endeavors, I look forward to seeing your projects in our mutual program!
ReplyDeleteI think that the education path is an excellent decision for you. From the time we spent together at community college, I could always tell you were particularly studious and were good at helping out other classmates in our CS courses. I think that it is a very rewarding path to take. While I don't know much about their online master's program, Harvard offers a very well formulated undergrad-level online CS curriculum that I have used in the past as supplemental education, and based on that I would recommend at least giving their program a look. Having an MS from Harvard would look nice on the wall too :P. (https://www.extension.harvard.edu/academics/graduate-degrees/software-engineering-degree)
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