Get to Know Me

Hello everyone! My name is Crystal Wolf. I graduated from USM in 2009 with a degree in Psychology.  When previously in school, I planned on majoring in Elementary and Special Education, I dropped my education degree though because I wanted to graduate sooner. I was so excited about graduating and beginning to work in the “real world;” however, after being out of school and working for a year and a half, I realized that all I wanted to do was be teaching.  It was at this time when I decided to come back to school and finish my degree in education.  Being able to pick back up at the exact spot I left off in the education program was great, and puts me graduating this December…yayyyyy!!!

The grade level and area I plan on teaching is still unknown to me, at this point.  I always saw myself teaching students with learning disabilities on the high school level; however, after working with so many elementary age children last semester, I have begun exploring the possibilities of teaching on lower grade. Since I will be working with higher grade levels this semester, I plan on comparing the two and figuring out which age group I feel most effective and natural teaching.

Deciding to dedicate my life to a career of teaching was the best school decision I could have ever made.  College is so enjoyable to me; I just love learning.  I get scared and nervous like everyone, but I overcome it by focusing on my overall goal, which is to be in the classroom helping others to learn!  Finishing my degree is going to be the easy part.  The hard part is will come when I have started my teaching career.  Having someone else’s “educational life” in my hands is a scary thought.  My biggest fear is that I will not be effective in reaching students.  A teacher’s job is critical.  Therefore, my time of being in school is spent learning the most I can, not only through books and instruction, but by teacher example.  I have had some fabulous instructors, which have been exceptional models for what an effective teacher looks like, and I can only hope to be half as good as them when I begin teaching.

To add a little about my personal life...I got married in April of last year to my wonderful hubby, Jack, and am blissfully happy! One of the great things I got from my marriage, besides my husband of course, is a beautiful "bonus" son, but he lives in Videlia, LA so I do not get to spend as much time as I would like with him.  I had a cute little Shih Tzu pup, but had to give him away. There is no time in my life right now to care pets (I can't even keep plants alive!), but hopefully once I graduate things will slow down a bit and the time will present itself.

I am in class at USM on Monday and Wednesday all day, have online chat classes Mon and Tuesday nights, and then clinicals on Tuesday and Thursday. My course load is a little heavier this semester because I am dead-set on graduating this December. I would rather work a little harder so I can get out there and really start teaching! Outside of my school life, I help take care of an elderly couple. Mr. Jay will be 92 this Tuesday and Mrs. Margaret will be 81 in March. They are an awesome couple and I love them like my own parents.

As of now, I am working Thurs, Fri, and Sat 5pm - 8 am. I plan on seeing how this works as far as being able to handle it with all my classes. I managed pretty well during the Intermediate block last semester so I think I'll be alright :-) As you can see, I have very little free time, but when I do it is spent traveling around. Oh, and I LOVE football. I am actually very sad that it is almost over; I hate having to wait until the next season, but the ending of football does mean the beginning of beach weather and that makes me happy too!!!! :-)

With all that said, I look forward to working with each and every one of you this semester, and hope I was able to let you in a little on who I am. I think this semester is going to be AWESOME!!!!    GO SENIORS   J