If I had to summarize my student teaching experience, the words I would use would be challenging, surprising, humbling, and intensely rewarding. 


     Admittedly, I went into this semester feeling unsure if I even wanted to follow through with my Education journey due to feeling inadequate in my previous instruction and the overwhelming sense that maybe this isn't where I truly wanted it to be, which birthed my interest in seeking out the Education Abroad's internship with ISA in Valencia, Spain. Approval was challenging, but I was granted the amazingly unique experience of being hosted by Loveland High School in Loveland, Colorado, and Iale International School in Eliana, Valencia, Spain. My Student Teaching was already fruition to be complicated by combining the logistics of being a full-time teacher and a full-time mother. Going abroad complicated things even further, which caused me not to gain the same experience as my classmates. I was paired with 8 different teachers, including my mentors, Colleen Caikowski and Cheryl McCahan in Loveland and Pedro Calero in Valencia. This caused me to have to get to know a variety of different students and concepts in a limited amount of time. However, with this isolated opportunity, I was able to enhance skills such as problem-solving, self-advocating, responsibility, and communication. 

     I could only spend 12 weeks in Valencia, so I spent my first and last two weeks at Loveland High School observing. It was hard not being able to do anything during those times, however, I was able to gain knowledge from more experienced teachers and what to expect in a typical freshman and senior classroom in Colorado. The bulk of my learning took place in the different classrooms in Iale. I thought I would struggle with not being able to build connections or foresee the full day of working with students, but surprisingly. I didn't have that issue. I believe that my biggest strength throughout. Student Teaching was my ability to build relationships with students. Even though I was a foreigner, they embraced me like I was one of their beloved teachers. Some other teachers joked about being jealous of the students' admiration of me. I had the chance to meet most of the Secondary level students and make my mark on everyone I engaged with. I intentionally made my lessons student-driven as much as possible to help make up for my limited time in each class to boost the rapport-building I wanted to focus on continually. I also made myself readily available to lead as much as possible in each co-teacher's class. 

     It was humbling to witness the growth of others around me, including myself. Although I didn't have any professional experience in the classroom, I was able to use other professional and personal knowledge I have gained over my life. In addition to teaching students and my co-teachers different content-related concepts, I created a space to engage in justice-oriented practices. First, some teachers used deficit lenses when discussing students' grades and characteristics. I gave them more professionalized and strength-based ways to encourage students' growth and development. I also found ways to implement student voice differently: allowing them to choose which projects they wanted to be a part of, encouraging students to challenge teachers' decisions through inquiry and self-advocacy, and giving them the space to be heard and recognized as individuals. In doing this, I could have more flexibility and freedom to do what I wanted in the classroom based on evidence collected from observations and assessments I created.  

     I was strengthened as a person and educator this semester, one of the most intensely rewarding experiences I will cherish forever. Not only did I live in another country for 90 days, I thrived in my profession and my personal life. I was forced out of my comfort zone and my self-esteem to be bold and brave in everything I did. Normalcy was broken, which made me more adaptable and strategic in how I processed and arranged each task I was faced with. I built bridges of connections across cultures and ideas that will continue to blossom as time passes. I feel more mature and confident that I am where I need to be to continue my passion for education, forever learning and educating others throughout my life experiences. I will cherish the time I spent during the fall of 2023 and use everything I've witnessed as a building block of a long and prosperous career as an educator, no matter where I'm offered to be a part.