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Profcomm > Writing Resources > Sample Documents > Interests Memo

Memo of Interests: Student Sample #2

Date: January 29, 2001
To: Center Team Leader and Interns
From: Erin Roepcke
Subject: Request for Personal Information

I am writing this memo to provide you some personal information about myself as you requested. I have attached some of the information you requested in list form to this memo. The lists include:

I have one broad goal for this internship, and it is to be better prepared for my career in elementary education (teaching), which I will begin next fall. Beyond that, my career goals are to get my Masters Degree in Education and to continue to foster an excitement for learning in young people and an environment where children feel safe both physically and emotionally to grow, learn and express their thoughts and feelings.

The classroom practicum I recently finished and the in which I am currently involved will help me to meet this goal by giving my practical experience n the field. My educational background prepares me for the developmental tasks my students will be dealing with. This will help me to gear activities to challenge them. My degree in Family Studies and Human Development also has prepared me with an understanding of the interconnectedness of issues within a family or community. This will especially be helpful during the next two years when I will be teaching in urban Washington D.C. in an under-resourced elementary school. These same skills in interpersonal relationships and counseling that I have acquired in my degree program will also help me in my relations with my coworkers and superiors by employing my counseling skills to diffuse situations and help with personal and professional problem solving.

Professional communication among teachers generally regards their students, or situations in their school or community. At many schools there is also a fair amount of personal communication among teachers.

The tools they use for both personal and professional communications vary according to the resources available. At La Cima Middle School, teachers do most of their professional communication via email and voicemail. This is because every classroom has both a phone and networked computer and every teacher has a voicemail account. Conversely, at A.J. Mitchell Elementary School, all communication among teachers takes place through face-to-face interactions or through handwritten notes. This is because there are no phones in classroom, no teacher voicemail and the classrooms that have computers are not connected to the internet or even an internal network.

Interests, Skills, Experience, Activities

Interests: elementary education, children, community, education, music, building self-esteem in children and a sense of community.

Skills: excellent public speaker, communicate well with children and adolescents, patient, organized, trusting, honest, hard-working, thorough, problem-solver, nurturing, exceptional writing skills, direct, open-minded, flexible, self-motivated, responsible, collaborative, empathetic, recently completed coursework in counseling.

Experience:

CLASSROOM PRACTICUM: responsibilities include giving instruction, preparing lessons, monitoring group work, working one-on-one with students, grading, collaborating with other teachers and staff. Nogales, Arizona, AJ Mitchell Elementary School (August 2000- May 2001): fourth grade classroom teacherıs aide.
Tucson, Arizona, La Cima Middle School (January 2001- May 2001): eighth grade history classroom teacherıs aide.

RESPITE CARE PROVIDER (1997-2000): care for developmentally disabled children and their families; required certification in CPR and First Aid as well as a government background check and certification by the Division of Development Disabilities and the Department of Economic Security.

CAMP COUNSELOR, Northern Arizona University Music Camp (Summers 1997, 1998, 1999): responsibilities included residence life tasks such as monitoring campersı behavior outside classes, planning activities, helping develop skills for classes and academic tasks such as working with teachers to prepare and execute lessons.

PAXIS INSTITUTE (1999): worked with staff in development of programs to increase self-esteem and decrease substance abuse among young people.

ASSISTANT MANAGER COFFEE SHOP (2000): worked with staff to create a fun work environment, completed ordering and scheduling responsibilities.

Activities:
CHILD CARE PROVIDER (1996-present): Supervise children ages 3 months to 16 years for periods from 1 hour to 2 weeks. Responsibilities include conflict resolution, homework supervision, and day-to-day tasks such as transporting children and cleaning.
EVENTS COORDINATOR, PRIDE ALLIANCE (1999): Planned and implemented events including dances, Coming Out Week, coordinating campus and other community events.
PRESIDENT, HALL GOVERNMENT (1998-1999): Led weekly executive and general body meetings. Worked with executive board to plan and implement activities and events for the Hall, including but not limited to home game barbeques, and dinner-and-a-movie night. Also managed requests for additional supplies and for residents and coordinated with other area residence halls for events planning.
SECRETARY, HALL GOVERNMENT (1997-1998): Took minutes for weekly executive and general body meetings. Worked with executive board to plan and implement activities and events for the Hall, including but not limited to home game barbeques, and dinner-and-a-movie night.
EMPLOYMENT (1997-present): See Experience.

Education

Bachelors Degree, Family Studies and Human Development conferred May 2001.

Relevant Coursework:
Education, Presentation and Planning: Classroom Practicum (135 hours each) A.J. Mitchell Elementary School, La Cima Middle School, Program Planning and Evaluation, Professional Presentation Techniques.
Counseling: Basic Skills in Counseling
Development: Infancy and Early Childhood Development, Adolescence, Advanced Human Development (focusing on the development and issues of school-aged children), Juvenile Delinquency.
Interpersonal Relations: Advanced Family Relations, Problems in Human Development and Interpersonal Relationships.

Accomplishments