Follow my lead...
Introduce yourself: where you're from, what your interests are (hobbies, studies, travels, etc.), and one thing that makes you truly exceptional. The word has a connotation when coupled with special education, but truly about 93% of us are exceptional in some way (I just feel bad for the 7% who are not!) [Exceptionalities range from diagnoses like ADD to shyness, gifted to struggling reader, the autism spectrum, hyper-sensitive to apathetic -- we will explore a lot of them!]
So here goes! I'm Dr. Barri Bumgarner (Dr. Bum, if you prefer), and I'm originally from southwest Missouri. I grew up in Lebanon, got my B.S. in Ed. at Missouri State (then SMSU), and I played tennis and basketball while in college. I then taught 7th grade for a few years, directed a KinderCare for the next 5, then taught junior high in Columbia for a decade. During that time, I wrote seven novels, published three, have a couple more on the way, and decided I would get my Masters in Education. While at University of Missouri, I taught education classes, got lured into getting my PhD, and four years ago, I became an Assistant Professor at Westminster! Whew...way more than you wanted to know.
As for hobbies, I love to travel (I usually go to St. Thomas around Christmas, this week I'm traveling to Chicago to see Hamilton, the play! I'm a voracious sports fan (KC Chiefs, St. Louis Cardinals, Mizzou, WC!, tennis...), and if I have my choice, I'd rather be at a concert or out by my pool with my puppies than just about anywhere else. I also absolutely LOVE books...reading them, listening to them, writing them, talking about them. And I am VERY plugged in -- I taught a seminar at WC called "There's an App for That" and I've led the initiative to get Westminster to go 1:1 (every student gets and iPad). It is about to happen! All things digital will help you evolve in this decade in almost every single profession (though I pride myself on knowing when to still pick up pen and paper!). But 92% of all western culture professions use digital literacy in some way (medicine, law, education, business, engineering, etc.)
One thing that makes me exceptional is that, first of all, I am ADHD. Second of all, I am stubborn to a fault and I don't take no for an answer. I'm too sensitive at times, I am not a rocket scientist at math, and if given the choice, I'd prefer not to ever bake anything ( love to cook...just not bake). When someone tells me I can't do something, I strive to prove them wrong. Sometimes it gets me into trouble. Most of the time, it allows me to live my dream. So far, barely into my 50s, I've done just that...
Now it's your turn! Tell us about yourself, and each of you respond to one another's intros! Blog by Thursday at midnight and then respond to each person by Saturday, Dec. 24th (get it done early so you don't have to work on Christmas Eve or Christmas!).
It is great to get to get to know so much about you Dr. Bum. I did not realize you have published so much!
ReplyDeleteMy name is Pam Davidson and I am a Business and Marketing Instructor and DECA Advisor in Moberly, MO at Moberly Area Technical Center. I look forward to learning not only from Prof. Hackman but also all of the other class participants as well. I am in my second year of teaching after making a career change from working in non-profit and major corporation environments over the last 20 years. I have a Temporary teaching certificate through the state of Missouri and need to complete about 21 credit hours for my full teaching certificate. I have a bachelors in exercise physiology from MU and a MBA from William Woods thus allowing me to enter the teaching profession while completing my education credits.
My hobbies have actually expanded in the last couple of years. I do not like to sit still so basically I enjoy about anything. I have always loved exercise with running, swimming, and lifting weights being my choice of activities. I love sports and that is about all I watch on tv, but prefer going to live games. My favorite players to follow are my three children. Two are in college now and no longer play sports. My youngest is a senior in high school and is quarterback and pitcher for baseball. He is wanting to continue in college and I really hope he does as I can't imagine not watching him play. It saddens me that he will down to only one sport after this year. Last year I started a frozen custard business so that has really cut into my hobby time. However I have been able to add in a new passion of mine and that is hunting. Last year was my first year of really taking it seriously and I got a double bearded turkey on opening day and a 8 point buck. No deer this year, but I really enjoy being in the woods admiring the beauty and listening to the sounds. I have also gotten into fly fishing which I have a lot of progressing to do in that. In my younger years when I had more time, I did crafts. I'm hoping I can return to that someday. If I'm sitting around the house, reading is enticing to me.
As far as exceptionalities of me, I hate to quit anything. Also I can't say "no" to people. Both of which drive my husband insane. I get way over my head in too many things and don't get out when I need to.
You have accomplished so many things, that is so cool! One of the things I found interesting was that you were not afraid to change what you wanted to do after 20 years! That is so inspiring for not just me but I'm sure many other people as well. Also, I like how you do not like to quit anything, I am the same way, not finishing something just does not sit well with me! I am glad you are taking this class and doing what you really want to do!
DeleteWelcome back, Pam!
DeleteI'm not really a sports person but I have to agree, going to live games is much better than seeing it on the television. Even though I have no idea what's going on most of the time, I enjoy the atmosphere and always have a good time at a live game. I would love to taste some of your frozen custard one day. I also have trouble saying no to people. I think you're extremely brave for making a career change now. Where I work, several people have told me they have thought about going back to school and then tell me they're too old. It's nice to see that you share my view that you are never too old to do what you want.
DeleteI think that your exceptionality of not wanting to quit anything is actually great in many areas. If you ever start anything then you would want to finish it, projects, goal, etc. I admire that, I wish that I had the motivation and drive to want to not want to quit things. I can also relate to not wanting to say no to people. I get caught up, like you, in too many things and some things that I do not really enjoy.
DeleteWow, both of you are very successful people! It is going to be hard to type something out that will sound half as good as that. Knowing that i am only a freshmen in college and have not done many things!
ReplyDeleteMy name is Faith Manning and I live in Camdenton Missouri (just about 30 minutes away from where Dr. Bum grew up). I love basketball, not only playing, but watching on t.v or live(live games are much better). I love watching any sports except for golf(that bores me to death!).
Along with being a sports lover, I love the act of teaching and coaching. I think being able to teach someone else what you know can change how the world works. Teaching elementary, I feel like I will be able to mold their minds at a young age and teach them what is necessary to live in the real world when they grow up. My second grade teacher had a huge impact on me. Not only teaching me what second graders needed to know, but what was important in life.
One thing that makes me exceptional? That is a tough question! There are not many times that I think about what makes me exceptional. I am a person that likes to help others. I am the shoulder to cry on, the one that holds our group together and the one who will do what ever I can in order to help anyone I can with anything they need help with. This has helped me make my decision to go into Elementary Education.
Haha, I thought the same thing as you. They have lost of experience and a big life resume, I did not wanna compete with their introductions.
DeleteBasketball is amazing and I am glad someone else is super into it as much as I am. However, how do you not like watching golf...that makes me sad, I enjoy watching it but I know were all not gonna enjoy the same things. I think what you said about teaching people is good and a good perspective to have as a teacher.
That just means I'm OLDER!! 😉
DeleteI think all teachers should have the view you have on teaching. It's important to not just teach your content area but life lessons as well. Some of the most important life lessons that I have learned have come from my teachers.
DeleteFaith, I only have more life experiences because I am older! It seems like just yesterday I was a freshman in college. My daughter just graduated from college a couple of weeks ago and I was thinking how it was 23 years ago this month I graduated. I love sports too! And agree with you completely on golf!!! I always wished I would have taught and coached softball so I am eventually doing that in that I am coaching middle school softball. I'm having so much fun with it so I hope you get to do that too if you wish. I really struggled with the exceptional question also. I don't feel exceptional at all! It is great getting to know you and I look forward to going through this class with you.
DeleteHello everyone. My name is Addison Conway and I am a Junior at Westminster College where I am a residential advisor and track athlete. I am trying to become a teacher in Secondary Education. I really want to coach basketball too! I am from the little town of St. James, MO (wine country) and I lived there all my life.
ReplyDeleteMy hobbies, well I really enjoy sports, anything and everything associated with sports. I am always trying to watch them and participate in them. I grew up playing basketball which turned into other sports as well and the passion has always been there. Something else that I really enjoy doing is playing video games. It is a fun, exciting way to stay connected with friends, I am pretty decent at them, and it is a great past time. Besides those two things, I really do not do much.
One thing that makes me exceptional is that I am super competitive. Now you may think that that is a good thing, and in most cases it is. However, sometimes I am competitive over stupid things.
Basketball really seems to be the glue that is going to make us all get along, or just sports in general! I actually want to coach basketball to. I think having three knee surgeries from playing basketball shows how much I love the sport! And don't be ashamed of being competitive, I am too, over the littlest things, or the biggest things. I do not like to lose at all. So I can totally understand where you are coming from!
DeleteI also play video games but I'm not too great at most of them. Haha. My boyfriend and I play Call of Duty on one of our rare nights off when we have absolutely nothing to do and he always has a better kill/death ratio than I do. I also can be competitive over stupid things, most often with my boyfriend on things like Call of Duty! Sometimes, I have to remind myself that not everything is a competition.
DeleteCall of Duty is what I play 95% of the time, it is my absolute favorite. I have to do the same as you though, remind myself that not everything is a competition, don't wanna ruin friendships over stupid things.
DeleteHi Addison, nice to meet you and hear all about you! Good to hear we have another sports fan! What is your favorite team? I've always liked college basketball better than pro. I started liked KU Jayhaws when I was in high school. I grew up in Macon Mo and was a MU fan but when they would loose out I wanted to cheer for another conference team. Back then it was the Big 8 (did I mention I am old?) I loved watching Coach Brown, Danny Manning and the rest of the team. When they won the National Championship, I was a lifelong fan. I ended up going to MU and had to secretly cheer when the Jayhawks came to town, because I would have been exciled as that was not acceptable at all. My brother and my husband still wonder what kind of person is a Jayhawks fan and goes to MU. It is much more acceptable now to be a Jayhaws fan in mid MO. As far as COD, my kids play it regularly so I have watched many games!
DeleteMy name is Rebecca Dreyer and I am a Junior at Westminster College. I am currently thinking about majoring in English or continuing a degree in Secondary English Education due to some circumstances in life. I am am member of the Kappa Delta chapter of Alpha Gamma Delta on campus and I attended Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri my sophomore year of college. As for hobbies, school and work don't allow me much time but I enjoy reading, writing, and painting. Lately, I have been trying my hand at photography. My subjects have mostly been the morning sky (it's so beautiful in the morning when I get off work because the sun is just rising) and my dog, Ria. When I have free time to do other things and I am not doing these, I am watching something on Netflix. Something that makes me exceptional is that I doubt myself easily. This is something I am working on and I feel that I have made a lot of progress with it but I am not where I want to be quite yet. On the flip side, I have a tendency to want to prove people wrong when they tell me I cannot do something.
ReplyDeleteI love pictures of scenery and the sky. It is so relaxing and calming, I usually have something like that set as my background on my phone and computer so I think that is really cool that you do that in your free time. I think under most circumstances that wanting to prove people wrong can be a great motivator to accomplish things.
DeleteThat is so cool that you like taking pictures of the sky! Those types of pictures relax me the most. And as for trying to figure out what to major in, I was the same way. I was torn between two things. In the end you will find what fits you the best! Good luck!
DeleteHi Rebecca! It is so good to meet you! I love taking pictures and have been known to try to race home and grab my camera because a sunset is breathtaking. I need to start taking my camera with me because it is those unexpected moments that makes the best pictures. I love taking pictures of trees especially in the winter. The shapes of branches are so cool. I think it is ok that you doubt yourself, maybe because I always doubt myself too, but I really think that shows that your care about what you are doing and want to make sure you are making the right decision. I've found that we never really know for sure if the decision is right until we make it and follow through with it. Also having faith goes a long way in the decision process. There will always be challenges in whatever we do. Just keep believing in yourself and it will all work out!
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