Education seems to be changing frequently and consistently over time. After my first couple of years teaching first grade, I noticed that I had an innate interest in incorporating technology into my classroom environment. I enjoyed seeing students create and learn in new and engaging ways. After deciding to go back to school and further my education, I had to decide what exactly I wanted to learn and further explore. While looking through the list of options, the Masters in Art and Educational Technology program caught my eye. I knew I enjoyed using technology in my classroom and had seen firsthand the way my students could benefit from learning with technology. My original goals when entering the program were to simply further my education and learn more about how technology can be incorporated into my classroom.

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As I reflect on my intentions upon entering my current masters program at MSU, I realize that over time my goals have changed. Currently, I have set my sights on looking into ways that I can use my education to become a technology consultant and help other teachers utilize technology within their classrooms in new and engaging ways. Educating 21st century learners requires education systems to progress as well. A key component to this involves teachers learning how to use new tools and improve current methods of teaching. Recently, I had the opportunity to present to teachers and help them professionally develop their use of technology inside the classroom. This experience confirmed my desire to further myself in my career and explore new opportunities.

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My overall goal when pursuing my masters has changed gradually over time. Although, the initiative of pursuing something I am passionate about has not. My interest has evolved from simply learning about how to use technology in my classroom to spreading my knowledge to others. I have always liked to help people, I believe this also plays a role into why my goals have changed over the years. I have seen how some teachers use or do not use technology. When our school shut down in March due to the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, there were teachers who were not equipped to implement virtual education. During that time, I truly wanted to help whoever I could, however I could. As much as I enjoy teaching in an elementary setting, I know that I am craving other avenues. I would not have these goals in mind if I had never applied for this particular program but my goals are slowly advancing into reachable aspirations. This requires me to continually reevaluate my goals and expand my knowledge to push towards the finish line.