Oct 05 2007

Introducing ‘Me’

It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s a new student teacher determined to change the world one mind at a time!!!!  (cape flying behind)

 Ok.  I am not that idealistic, but really, who is this this new guy?  Well, you can call me Greg or Sticks, but please don’t call me late for dinner. I am a rookie blogger and am completely illiterate of any socioblogger rules, so if I stumble, please be kind and let me know.  Thanks.

Now we hear the rest of the story…….

           Why I Am In Teacher Education

After ten years in industry, I have made the leap to college and university to pursue a career teaching high school trades. This career goal was set in my grade twelve year and has since been reinforced by serving as a shop lead-hand.I believe that adolescence is a crucial stage of development and I am grateful that I have spent these years in ‘the real world’ prior to pursuing my degree.  I believe that my life and career experiences will be an asset not only to myself as a teacher, but to my students and their futures as well.I am passionate about the trades and believe that there are many great opportunities available to students and young adults in
British Columbia.  I believe in post secondary education, be it academic or trades oriented, and I believe in life long learning and the importance of working towards goals.My recent seven year occupation was in a production cabinet shop.  Here I learned the value of a good leader (teacher), the detriments of a poor one and I learned that success is not always measurable with statistics.  I feel that my greatest achievement at this shop was not in waste management or production, but in the training, equipping and empowering of those that I supervised or worked alongside.  I found that a good coach or mentor will accomplish far more than a dictator and that every individual can achieve personal successes.A student of the program’s pilot years (2005-2007), I graduated the Okanagan College Trades Technology Teacher Education Diploma program with distinction.  Throughout my education, I have celebrated many personal accomplishments, enjoyed English Literature, Sociology and Adolescent Psychology, and have appreciated the diverse array of teachers that we have experienced.  I am looking forward to getting into the classroom to learn from the experiences of my sponsor teacher and others that are willing to take the time to share.

Three Interesting Things I Want You To Know About Me

1. I just celebrated my tenth anniversary and I have three children ages 8, 16, and 17.  Although it has been a challenge to return to school, my family has been very supportive.  When I half jokingly told my wife, Corinna, that I planned to quit my job and return to school, she casually said that she would hold me to it (I think she even offered to type my resignation letter that evening).  Joshua, my youngest, is in soccer and scouts, Aric excels at rep hockey and Virginia graduated in June and is now enrolled in Arts at Okanagan College. 
2. I enjoy most outdoor sports and can frequently be found on Okanagan back-roads looking for the ideal place to hike, fish, hunt or ride.  Being that I traded the 4×4 for cruise control and air conditioning this year (and only for this year!), I have taken up jogging and cycling as a means of maintaining sanity and some semblance of fitness.
3. I am a homeowner/renovator, personal mechanic, floor layer, furniture builder, occasional drummer and so much more.  When time permits, I enjoy stepping out to my shop to create something out of wood or to maintain my vehicles.  Conversely, I have found as time goes on, that I enjoy training people to use my tools more than I enjoy using them myself . . . that is, unless my project is to be a gift for a friend or loved one.

About the Author

My name is Greg Stickney, hope I don’t meet any ID thiefs now, but I guess I should hide no longer.  I am currently in my final year of a Bachelor of Education with a Trades specialty.  What I say and post is not gospel, but meerly my humble opinion or frustration or musing.  Feel free to comment or contact.

Thanks for your interest in this site.