Personal Statement

During my Jr. High and High School years I wanted to be anywhere and everywhere else besides school. At that time in my life, I was certainly much more interested in spending time with my friends than spending time and energy on school. So, it was not a surprise to anyone who knows me that I did not begin my pursuit of a college degree until I was twenty-three years old.

I started my undergraduate days taking a bunch of classes that I thought were fun in hopes of eventually finding that one area of study that would be my “calling” academic and career path. After a few semesters of a bunch of art classes and some basic general education classes, I thought that advertising would be the most ideal path for me. At first, this seemed like I was really on to something; advertising could be a great creative outlet and could certainly lead to a lucrative career.  However, there was one problem; I had become incredibly uncomfortable with the thought of working in an industry that thrives on the constant reinforcement of consumerism and consumption.

As a result of this realization, I asked myself what path would ultimately offer the greatest personal gratification and, at the end of the day, would contribute positively to society as a whole. When I transferred to CSULA, I was immediately attracted to the courses and themes that the Liberal Studies department offered which focused on societal issues of race, gender, and socio-economics. The Liberal Studies program not only ignited a new found love for education, but it also convinced me that a career in education is exactly what I was looking for. I love the thought of how much educators contribute to the overall well being of people, on both a personal level and a larger societal level. A career in education is obviously the answer to the question I had been asking myself. I sometimes laugh and think how ironic it is for me to pursue this career given how much I disliked being in school as a youth. But, thanks to the valuable undergraduate education I received at CSULA, I have gained a completely new outlook on life and have established strong personal goals for my future.

The M.A. in Education with the option in Computer Education and Technology Leadership is particularly appealing to me because I believe that a background in technology is becoming an absolute necessity for educators. Our society, as a whole, is using technology in almost every aspect of daily life, and schools are no exception. The new trend for schools to implement technology into the curriculum appears to be partly due to the realization of how exciting and convenient technology can make both learning and teaching. I am looking forward to becoming a leader in technology and sharing all the valuable resources our modern technology has to offer with those who are eager to learn.