Whoops! I Did It Again

Back on November 16, 2006 (more than three years ago now!) I wrote about my application to OISE at the University of Toronto and my intention to study in their new Student Affairs M.Ed. programme. Though I got into that programme, I chose to accept my current job instead and delayed entering back into the world of student-y things. I have since finished more than half of the courses I need to complete the certificate in Student Affairs and Student Services at Seneca College. Ten minutes ago, however, I took a deep breath and hit submit for my online application to study in the Person-Centred Education MA in Education Studies at the University of Sussex. I'm not going to lie: I'm a little light-headed right now.

In the spirit of that blog entry three years ago, I will share my letter of intent once again. You will notice some similarities, but hopefully some differences, too. Those differences are a sign, I think, of the changes I have undergone and the learning I have done. Three years ago, I knew choosing the BISC over OISE was not a mistake. Let this blog entry stand as proof.

January 4, 2010

Department of Education

School of Education and Social Work
University of Sussex
Brighton

BN1 9RG

To Whom It May Concern:

As soon as I read about the collaboration between the University of Sussex and the Guerrand-Hermès Foundation for Peace, I felt certain I had found a unique programme that not only fits my personal philosophy, but also my professional philosophy and intellectual goals. I believe that each student at our institutions of higher education comes with his/her own stories, aspirations, motivations, and struggles; what goes on outside the classroom inevitably affects how he/she performs inside the classroom. Moreover, I believe that the person-centred approach of this MA programme is likely to fit well with my own hands-on, relationship-oriented style of learning, or what educational theorist David A. Kolb calls an “Accommodating learning style (2008)”. Through the MA in Education Studies, I would like to explore the pedagogy of Community Service Learning and the role of the university in creating active citizenship amongst the post-secondary student population. I very much hope the Person-Centred Education programme at the University of Sussex will be the next major cornerstone for my career in Student Affairs and Higher Education.

Please allow me to share a series of events that have greatly influenced my career thus far, and led me towards my current educational goals. During my last year of secondary school, my geography teacher took a small group of students to hear former Canadian Ambassador to the UN, Deputy Director of UNICEF, and UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa, Stephen Lewis, speak at the University of Guelph for our “World Issues” course. At the time, I didn’t really know who Mr. Lewis was; but I left that event profoundly moved and inspired by his passion to make the world a better place. A year later I travelled the road back to the University of Guelph as a first year undergraduate student, excited to learn and experience new things. Fast forward another twelve years and I am at the helm of a brand new speakers’ series run out of the University of Guelph’s student housing department. Knowing what kind of impact Mr. Lewis could have on students and how extra-curricular events like this were a catalyst for learning during my own undergraduate education, I was determined that he would be the first speaker in our series. The night that Stephen Lewis spoke to 600 students, staff, faculty and community members in War Memorial Hall was one of the most fulfilling moments of my life, both professionally and personally.

I have been involved in the field of Student Affairs since my final year of university fifteen years ago. Back then I was the Residence Assistant for Eco-House, one of Guelph’s four Living-Learning Centres. This meant that, as an upper-year student, I was given the opportunity to mentor other students and create educational extra-curricular experiences for them in a themed residence community. Through that job, I gained critical community-building skills, met interesting people, and discovered a great deal about myself in the process. Most importantly, I got to experience the immense value of Student Affairs work first–hand, and that was life-changing!

Since that initial road trip to Guelph, past the other signposts (both large and small) along the way, I have come to discover that I thrive when I work in an environment that values the acquisition of knowledge, celebrates diversity, fosters a sense of community, and has a vision for the future. I am committed to social justice and the creation of positive communities. Furthermore, I work to learn constantly, so that I can better serve the communities to which I belong. I have discovered all of this and more within Student Affairs.

I believe the purpose of colleges and universities is to create informed, civic-minded, engaged global citizens who think critically and act constructively. A university or college education is not merely a vehicle to a higher paying job or something to do after high school graduation; I believe we have a responsibility to communicate this message to our students. As recipients of and participants in higher education, they need to realize that they have a responsibility to contribute to society and, to paraphrase John F. Kennedy (1961), ask not what their communities can do for them, but rather, what they can do for their communities. This, for me, is at the heart of higher education.

During his convocation address at St. Francis Xavier University in May 2003, Stephen Lewis told the graduating class:

“What is clear as you graduate is that this world, rife with social injustice, needs you…And the discipline, the field of study, the profession, they matter not. You bring such a wealth of background and talent that when it combines with commitment, there will always be something you can do…You’ll never regret it, or ever feel more useful (Lewis, 2003, para. 21).”

As a Student Affairs professional, I want to develop and implement programmes that help students understand the importance of Mr. Lewis’ message. Those programmes must allow students to explore their interests, discover their passions and build their capacities. I want to create meaningful extra- and co-curricular programmes so that students can reflect upon what they are learning both inside and outside the classroom, and thereby integrate that insight with their life goals. I want to enhance my abilities to develop learning and service communities with and among post-secondary students, so that they increasingly can find their own signposts. In truth, Stephen Lewis’ assertion captures the essence of what brings me to this particular programme.

I hope very much that I may be admitted to the Person-Centred Education MA at the University of Sussex. I thank you for your time and consideration

Sincerely,

Rachel Barreca

REFERENCES

Kennedy, J. F. (1961, January 20). John F. Kennedy inaugural address. Retrieved November 29, 2009 from http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/jfkinaugural.htm

Kolb, D. A. (2008). Kolb learning style inventory summary report. Retrieved October 5, 2008, from http://www.haygroup.com/tl/lsi/SummaryReport.aspx

Lewis, S. (2003, May 4). Convocation speech by Stephen Lewis, St. Francis Xavier University. Retrieved November 29, 2009 from http://www.stephenlewisfoundation.org/news_speech_item.cfm?news=1102&year=2003