Working my way through this competency-based resume and strengths finding material has taught me one thing- teachers really have to have it all.

In pulling together anecdotes and examples for each competency, I’d noticed that a good number of my leadership examples came from my days with a medieval roleplaying group, and the rest came from somewhere in my teaching experience. I think almost all of my communication examples have come from somewhere in my teaching background.

I think this has a lot to do with the fact that a teaching situation is a microcosm. Regardless of how the teacher sets up that teaching situation, they are still the one in charge, the one running the show. They have to be able to communicate expectations and explanations without losing the student. They have to be able to facilitate changes in the teaching situation. They have to remain approachable to their students and their peers. They have to be able to bounce ideas off their peers, and to be able to allow students to bounce ideas off them.

There’s a lot more to teaching than most people realize.

In creating my examples, I’ve noticed a large gap of time where I wasn’t really drawing on any of my innate skills. I was very unhappy and at the end of my rope during that time. I think that speaks volumes about working toward your strengths and being the person you are supposed to be, rather than the one who just tries to get by.
I realize I took this project on as a means of revamping and strengthening my resume, and as a backbone for building a portfolio, but I think in the end it’s going to be an interesting way to find myself, to find the person who’s been lost for so long. Even when I have to ask myself, “Is that all?” when I can only think of one example for a competency, I’m learning so much about who I am and how I function.

Posted by Rebecca in Personal development