Education??!!
"Don'
be no fool, stay in school. Let your mind become a tool".
Well
I been in school for the past 17 years and I'm about burnt out.
Just
to let you all know that this was indeed the last page of my website that
I made.
Save
the best for last you may say - NOT!!!!!!
I
have always loved school, but as of lately it's a real drag so
had
to look back at the good old days to do this.
But
it wasn't always that way I say, it wasn't always that way.
I
remember when school used to be fun when I loved to go to school.
Travel
with me will you.
Kindergarten
Now
those were the good old days, all you did was sleep, eat, play and sleep
some more.
I
went to Busy Bee
there on Blue Hill Rd.
It was the family place.
So
I got to be with my cousin James every day of the week, at home and at
school.
So
it didn't go wrong there where next.
Then
there was Our Lady's Catholic School
for 1 year.
Apparently
I got into some trouble with my cousin cause the teacher
still
remembers us after 15 years and only having us for 1 year.
Talk
about lasting impressions.
But
I still don't think that is what turned me off from school.
Primary
School
Well
enough sleeping, onto bigger and better things
Off
to the Church school - Bahamas Academy Seventh-day
Adventist School,
who
knew that I would spend the next 12 years of my life there.
But
it was still fun, I got to see some of my friends at school and at
church.
We
had Bible class everyday, I'll never forget having to memorize the 10 commandments.
There
was worship in the morning and who could forget chapel with all the grown
up kids.
I
was a good kid, I didn't get much beatings - only for talking too much
in class.
And
who could forget the bomb scares and jumping the fence to go to the shop.
The
good old days.
But
I was still happy there.
Even
more so when I graduated and it was time to go to the big school
High
School
So
my birthday found me in the 7th grade.
That's
another thing , I never got birthday presents from my parents. Why?
Well
my birthday is September 6th so I got the your school fee, books, shoes,
uniforms etc.
are
your birthday presents. GEEE THANKS I thought.
But
September was special - go to school
to
see all my friends I might not have seen at church that summer.
But
I still loved school. I didn't have to study much-
I
had a God given talent for absorbing everything on one go.
But
what an education.
The
school song still rings in my ears:
"Bahamas
Academy, Bahamas Academy
This
is the school for me.
Bahamas
Academy, Bahamas Academy
Preparing
for eternity.
With
godly teachers to help
and
parents who care and love.
We'll
strive to achieve the utmost,
With
the blessings of God above"
With
wonderful teachers like "Mom"- Mrs. Lynn Smith, Mr. Julien and many others
were
always there to give a word of encouragement and lots of good advice.
And
that they did, encourage us to excel and to do out best not forgetting
God.
Yes
getting a good education and being able to score high on tests were important
but
above that was learning for eternity.
I
will never forget my last year in high school, it was rough
but
the place where my major change came about.
the
title was "Time is Running out!!!"
It
hit me hard and I made a decision to recommit my life to Christ.
It
was hard to leave the school, everything might not had been perfect but
it was home.
I
had spent my life there but it was on to college.
But
I still had a love for school -
So
where did I go wrong????
College
Life 
Being
only 16 when I graduated from high school I was not yet ready to
leave
home so it was to our local College of the
Bahamas.
My
immediate plans were to be a medical doctor but you see that soon changed
as
I was not too friendly with Biology. Mathematics I loved and Chemistry
I could live with.
But
even though I was a Chemistry and Mathematics major and it was
stressful
at times I still liked it.
I
was still an excellent student and all but I enjoyed the work.
But
college was not my only form of education.
Besides
peer tutoring at the college I also worked part time at
Bahamas
Title Research (BTR) where I gained so much
knowledge in other fields of life.
Graduation
came around and I had to leave home to further my education
I
was excited , I was going to Montreal Canada.
But
I still liked school.
That
was all soon to change.
University
Life
Those
people up there are out of their mines - no sympathy or feelings.
My
first year was horrible. I got great grades but I was miserable and lonely.
I
came to a place where I didn't know a single person and
it
is around 0 degrees C most of the school year.
I
am glad that we had free internet access and lots of computers around
campus.
But
I will not talk about McGill and my school life here
because
it depresses me to even talk about it.
I am praising God everyday cause that part of my life is over.
The
bad thing is I have to move on and the question becomes - where do I go
from here?
At
present I am busy praying and looking around for a school to do my Masters degree.
I
couldn't stay at McGill because they didn't have a Graduate Studies
program
in Environment as yet. How sad (not).
Canadian education is cheaper but I can't take this weather- it's depressing.
I decided to take a year off and go back home to the Bahamas and get things together.
I planned to go to grad school in the states so cramed for the GRE and with lots of prayer did very well...
Even though I think it is a ridiculous exam that doesn't truly test knowledge or a person's ability.
I had planned to go off to Texas for grad school in September 2001.
They
all have great programs in Environmental Science and Chemistry.
So
it was filling out applications, getting references, looking for
scholarships
over during my year off.
I
think I deserve a break from school. What do you say??
THE END???
Teaching?????
Just when you thought it was safe to come home.
I got a call to teach at my alma matter Bahamas Academy Secondary and took it.
I taught Grades 7-9 Health and General Science
(Yes remember I didn't become a doctor because I didn't like Biology so you can guess what happened).
It wasn't long before I realized that that wasn't working out too well.
As much as I wanted to help out my Alma Matter it was in the best interest of all concerned to depart.
It was a great learning experience - I now know I don't want to be a teacher at the hisgh school level.
It was also interesting to work with people that taught me and that I looked up to.
Graduate School
After a year and a half break it was off to graduate school.
I am finished with my Master's degree in Environmental Management
and it only took me a year and a half which feels wonderful.
So what next you may ask.. well of course it's MORE SCHOOL
I am enjoying school and teaching. I really missed it.
Yes I know I must be crazy...I guess I am.
