To all who come to this happy place...WELCOME!

I have just returned home from a fantastic week long adventure in Disneyland in California. I just finished university and my mom and sisters and I went to the happiest place on Earth to celebrate! It was a lot of fun and it made me realize just how lucky I am to be in a position in my life to have just finished a post-secondary degree and be able to go on a vacation with my family (even if Dad had to stay home). I think that a lot of times people in this part of the world get caught up on all of the little things that go wrong in their lives, whether it be a stock losing value or getting a crack in your windshield and we forget just how lucky we are to live in a place where we can have a place in the economy or we can drive a car to work or school. We are truly lucky and blessed to live the lives we do.

After that little “micro-rant” I wanted to talk about an organization that I think is so cool! It is called Dreams Take Flight and it takes children from low income families and children who are sick in the hospital for a whirl wind day trip to Disneyland! It is truly my favourite place in the entire world and the idea that these kids get the chance to experience it makes it even more exciting. I hope that I can one day actively volunteer with this organization and even go with them to see the joy and excitement on the children’s faces as they walk through the gates to that magic place where you enter a world of yesterday, tomorrow, and fantasy.

 

 

"To all who come to this happy place; welcome. Disneyland is your land. Here age relives fond memories of the past...and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future. Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams and the hard facts that have created America...with the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world.”

~ Walt Disney: July 17, 1955

 

And so the student becomes the teacher!

I’M DONE! I cannot believe that I have actually finished my university degree! I can now proudly write Shannon Robertson, B.Ed on anything I want! I feel so happy and blessed to be able to have a higher education and I truly believe that education is the most important thing in the world.

The Millennium Development Goals are so important to me not only because of the importance of reaching them, but also because of the work done at the Young Women’s World Forum in 2010. Achieving Universal Primary Education is something that must be completed by 2015 and once that happens, a lot of the other MDGs will simply fall into place. When there is universal education gender equality will be more attainable because boys and girls will have the same access to education. People will be more educated and therefore know more about preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases. Being educated usually means getting a better job so poverty and hunger could rapidly decrease around the world. There are so many incredible benefits to having an education and I know that I am biased because I have chosen to become an educator, but honestly I believe that there is nothing more important than having an education.

The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you.
B.B. King

 

 

100 Years Later

My favourite historical event is the sinking of the Titanic that happened 100 years ago as of this morning. I have heard the sinking described as t most fantastical, dramatic story you could ever think of that actually happened. There are so many elements involved in the story that still fascinate the world even a century later. I have read hundreds of books on the Titanic and the human stories move me every time. Now I do have a point to this fan girl gushing and it is that in tragedies like the sinking of the unsinkable ship the nature of the human spirit really comes out. I love reading books and watching movies that show the different reactions of the people on the Titanic on that fateful Sunday night whether they be like Benjamin Guggenheim who “dressed in his best and was prepared to go down like a gentleman” or J. Bruce Ismay, the owner of the White Star Line who bailed in a life boat and regretted his decision for the rest of his life. There were also people like Ida and Isador Straus who refused to be separated after several years of marriage. All of these stories make me wonder what I would do in a situation like this- what reaction would I have in such a tragic situation. It makes me a little bit sick to even think about it because I do not know what I would do. Even though the Titanic was a terrible tragedy where over 1500 people lost their lives there was some good that came out of it- changing maritime law to make sure that there are enough lifeboats for everyone, and breaking down social barriers from the Edwardian era between first, second, and third class. This may seem completely irrelevant to this blog but I just felt like it had to be celebrated- or at least remembered.

 

Alberta Girls` Parliament 2012... in pictures!

Alberta Girls' Parliament 2012!

First Under the Dome Session where the Parliamentarians taught the girls all about public speaking!



Inside the beautiful Alberta Legislature- always a highlight of AGP!

Official group photo (without me) on the steps of the Legislature

Sitting on the floor of the House in the world's comfiest chairs!

Learning the story of the first mace of Alberta.

The delegates inside the Premier's office.

The outside of the Alberta Legislature on a bright and sunny day.

A highlight of the Leg tour- the Legoslature! This model is made entirely of Lego!

Practicing the opening with the Speaker, LG, and Secretary.

Dr. Raj Sherman, leader of the Alberta Liberal Party came to speak to the girls and was a favourite highlight of the event.

An informal discussion with Dr. Sherman

One of the delegates being interviewed by CTV news.

Group photo with Leslie Penny, our honourary Lieutenant Governor for the opening of the 41st Session of Alberta Girls' Parliament.

The debating power of the opposition!

The girls are in a heated debate all about making teachers contractually obligated to provide extra curricular activities for students.

Debrief after one of the debates and information on the election process for next years executive.

Embroidery thread ready for friendship bracelet making!

Making friendship bracelets for the Send them to Sangam challenge.

One of my favourite quotes of all time- it is so powerful!

Great quote by J.K Rowling!

Guide's Own labyrinth with tape on the floor and the inspirational quotes on the ground.

Group Photo with Alberta Council

Provincial Commissioner Margaret Utgoff sharing her words of wisdom at the banquet.

Group photo with Heather Klimchuk, our honourary Lieutenant Governor

Environment Club!

As part of my student teaching I have to do a school wide project and I have decided, along with my fellow student teachers, to start an environment club. The kids are so excited to get involved with helping the Earth. We will be cleaning up the schoolyard, having a garbage free lunch day, making seed strips to plant for Earth day and learning about the environment too!  Even if it is just a club of twenty-five kids in grade one to four at a little school it can make a difference! They can tell their parents, friends, and families. And they will tell their friends and it will continue on and on and on!
I am really excited to see how this will play out and I hope that the kids will enjoy the club.



Teacher's Convention 2012

"You are today who you are so far, but you don't have to stay that way forever."

I heard this saying today live in person by one of my heroes... Dr. Roberta Bondar! I have spent the last two days at the Teachers' Convention for my area, which as nerdy as it sounds has been a highlight of my year so far! I have listened to lectures by two of my heroes (I will get into that more in a moment), learned more about cyberbullying and integrating different subjects into one another, and seen hundreds of resources and decorations for a classroom. Not going to lie I squealed with glee a couple of times...

I mean how cute is this!

Anyways it was a lot of fun. Yesterday I heard L.Gen Romeo Dallaire speak and I felt like a fourteen year old girl would feel like if she got a private concert from Justin Beiber. He was incredible! He spoke about his work and Rwanda during the genocide briefly and then he focused on the question are all humans human? Or... are some humans more human than others" He talked about the similarities between children in Africa and children here in Canada and what we can do to make a difference in their lives. It was very inspiring and reminded me of why I want to be a teacher.

This morning it was Dr. Roberta Bondar's turn and she was absolutely fantastic! I was so impressed by how funny she was and how insightful she was about the world around her (and space too!) I learned so much from her and it really was an honour to hear her speak.

Overall it was a fantastic couple of days, full of inspiration, knowledge, and excitement. I cannot wait until next year!

I am not dead I promise!

Wow I am so embarrassed. How is it already the end of February!? I know I always make up excuses to explain my long absences but I am just going to come out and say it. I'm really busy! I am currently doing my final round of student teaching which is a lot of work and I still have all of my other Guiding commitments. Now I  am not complaining I just feel like I have to give an explanation. I guess what I am trying to say is I'm sorry. I'm sorry for making promises and goals that I cannot keep because of my schedule and I am going to try to update as often as I can and especially if something exciting is happening.

Thanks for listening and understanding. :)