Senior Project FINAL Review

Calasanz.MelissaAdylia 1

Final Review

"Proud" does not even begin to describe how I felt when I read the evaluation I received for my Senior Project as the Student Supervisor for the GCC Survey of Dance Teaching Methodology Class...had it come from someone else, it may not have had such an impact, but to receive it from someone whom I have such tremendous respect, someone with such impeccable work ethic, and generosity as an educator, I was rendered speechless, and got a bit misty-eyed. I could not have done such great work without the exemplary mentorship of Dora Krannig...I am so grateful. 

Final Review. Calasanz.MelissaAdylia LEAP 198

Weekly Reflection Paper Senior Project GCC DANCE 107 Internship

 Saint Mary's College of California

LEAP 198 Senior Project

Student Supervisor of the Glendale Community College

DANCE 107

I welcome you to read the Weekly Reflection Papers I was required to write during my internship. Please keep in mind, I am aware of the type-o-s and grammatical errors. These papers were not proofread or edited because they did not require proofreading or editing. I welcome any comments or questions.
Thank you for your interest and continued support!
-Melissa Adylia Calasanz

Weekly Reflection Paper No. 1 of 10

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Weekly Reflection Paper No. 10 of 10

Survey of Dance Teaching Methodology Class

1. Calasanz.MelissaAdylia LEAP 198

Weekly Reflection Paper Senior Project GCC DANCE 107 Internship

Weekly Reflection Paper No. 1 of 10

Calasanz.MelissaAdylia 1

 Saint Mary's College of California

LEAP 198 Senior Project 

Student Supervisor of the Glendale Community College

DANCE 107

Survey of Dance Teaching Methodology Class

Weekly Reflection Paper No. 1

My first assignment as the Assistant to Doran Krannig, Glendale Community College Dance Department Chair, was to observe the DANCE 107 Class and determine how I could best assist Doran as well as the students, in preparing them to complete their first assignment.

By observing the DANCE 107 class, looking over the syllabus, and conferring with Dora, it was determined that the students needed help preparing to complete their first dance lesson plan which would later become part of their end of term Final Project Portfolio.

The students were allowed to choose the style of dance for the dance lesson plan. The style choices were jazz, ballet, hip-hop, modern, and creative movement.  However, since the majority of the students had little to no experience teaching children it was important to educated them on what is suitable for public school children, grades K-12, in terms of appropriate warm up, cool down, and the difficulty of content and movements, as well as the length of choreography. Additionally, each lesson plan needed to incorporate documentation of California Department of Education Dance Standards in relation to the content contained within the dance lesson plan. I determined it would be helpful to locate the most up-to-date resources, referencing the California Department of Education Dance Standards, so the students could become familiar with them and apply them to their lesson plan.

While researching California Department of Education Dance Standards, I found several useful resources for the students: Visual and Performing Arts Framework for California Public Schools Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/cr/cf/documents/vpaframewrk.pdf; California Standards for the Teaching Profession 2009 http://www.ctc.ca.gov/educator-prep/standards/CSTP-2009.pdf ; and most importantly California Department of Education Dance Standards 2013 California State Board of Education Grade Nine Through Twelve-Proficient Visual and Performing Arts: Dance Content Standards http://www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/damain.asp.

Once I had completed the research, and gathered the resources that would be of most value to the students as they completed their first assignment, I composed the “Glendale Community College Dance 107 Survey of Dance Teaching Methodology Lesson Plan and Dance Standards Study Guide.”

Though Dora gave me a week to complete this first assignment, I knew many of the students were enthusiastic to begin work on their lesson plan as soon as possible so I took the challenge to have the document completed and available to the students before the start of the next Dance 107 Survey of Dance Teaching Methodology Class. Though this self-imposed challenge only allowed me less and one day to conduct research and to create the study guide, I was thrilled to begin work as her Intern/Assistant, and found the information very useful.

Not only did the research allow me to become familiar with an aspect of dance education that I had no previous knowledge of (the California Department of Education Dance Standards) and how to apply the information to the process of creating a dance lesson plan, the research allowed me the opportunity to become aware that social dances are still included in grade school dance education.

I am happy to report that each student upon completion of their first draft of their first lesson plan, they had each incorporated at least 3 Dance Standards. Next Wednesday they will be submitting the final draft of their first lesson plan which will give up the opportunity to determine if the dance standards included do in fact correspond with the content of their proposed class.

1. Calasanz.MelissaAdylia LEAP 198

Weekly Reflection Paper Senior Project GCC DANCE 107 Internship

Weekly Reflection Paper No. 2 of 10

Calasanz.MelissaAdylia 1

 Saint Mary's College of California

LEAP 198 Senior Project 

Student Supervisor of the Glendale Community College

DANCE 107

Survey of Dance Teaching Methodology Class

Weekly Reflection Paper No. 2

Assisting Dora Krannig is proving to be as rewarding as it is action-packed. The process of compiling and organizing information to create study-guides has deepened my awareness and appreciation of how much knowledge I do posses, and how much more I crave. Compiling and organizing information to create study-guides has also deepened my awareness and appreciation of how the exemplary educators I’ve had over the last two years has contributed to my strong organizational skills and ability to create thorough study guides.

With the go-ahead from Dora, I took it upon myself to create the “Glendale Community College Dance 107 Survey of Dance Teaching Methodology Suggested Reading” document. The document was designed to guide students in finding pertinent information helpful with assisting them as they begin applying information from last week, regarding the 2013 California Department of Education Dance Standards, as they continue work on preparing their lesson plans. While preparing the study guide, I chose to refer back to the instructional material that my LEAP Dance History I and II professor, Jill Nunes Jensen would provide for our assignments.

While enrolled in Jill’s classes I never had to ask clarifying questions regarding the course syllabus, worksheets, or other directions she gave to the class. She was clear, concise, and extremely organized with her presentation. While preparing the study guide, I worked hard to emulate her style.

I am happy to report, the study guide met with Dora’s approval and it will hopefully also be included in next semester’s DANCE 107 class when we transition to using Moodle.

In addition to the “Glendale Community College Dance 107 Survey of Dance Teaching Methodology Suggested Reading” document, I prepared a much less formal document: “Dance/Fitness Certifications and Continuing Education Resources for Dance/Fitness Instructors.” This document was quickly put together after several students expressed an interest in incorporating their love of dance and their desire to work in the health and fitness industry. I felt especially motivated to get this information out to the students as quickly as possible because the health and fitness industry is currently embracing dance as a form as a powerful too for promoting, health, well being, and weight loss that translates to big numbers financially.

I feel it’s important to empower young dancers to seek employment that is as good for their health and well being as it is for their financial stability; especially while they are pursuing a career in the arts. Fitness is an excellent vehicle that can support a dancer’s lifestyle, thanks to the schedule flexibility it offers and the access to free gym memberships and the opportunity to perform every time they teach a class.

A dancer has a much better chance of staying on top of their game if they have a job other than waitressing or bartending while trying to survive in Los Angeles.  I feel that information about dance-fitness should be job including in the curriculum of dance teaching methodology classes, not only as a way to make money, but as a way to utilize many of the skills dancers have worked hard to perfect over many years.

Since I completed the documents I’ve continued to fine tune the information in order to present the information in a more organized fashion; anticipating when we begin the process of transitioning the information to Moodle. I’m really looking forward to meeting with Connie Lantz, Instructional Technology Support Specialist, at Glendale Community College in the coming weeks, and learning how to use this resource.

2. Calasanz.MelissaAdylia LEAP 198

Weekly Reflection Paper Senior Project GCC DANCE 107 Internship

Weekly Reflection Paper No. 3 of 10

Calasanz.MelissaAdylia 1

 Saint Mary's College of California

LEAP 198 Senior Project 

Student Supervisor of the Glendale Community College

DANCE 107

Survey of Dance Teaching Methodology Class

Weekly Reflection Paper No. 3

Reflecting on recent tasks completed for my internship as the Supervisor for the DANCE 107 Survey of Dance Teaching Methodology Class, fills me with pride and a tremendous sense of accomplishment. However, the reflection also brings with it feelings of frustration and a bit of sadness.

Each task I have completed, whether it is doing research regarding what is required of a dance educator seeking employment in public and private schools, or at the community college level; preparing a document for the students of the DANCE 107 class; or completing my reflection papers; each task highlights my ability to accept and complete a challenge.

Though it has been quite challenging to juggle four academic classes, two internships, maintain communication with my personal training clients, and deal with driving over 45 miles in one direction, two days a week to get to my classes at Glendale Community College (fortunately the nutrition class I take is at Orange Coast College in Orange County, CA, only 20 miles from my home), all while nurturing a marriage, maintaining a home, and training and participating in half marathons, marathons and cycling events, it is proving to be so rewarding.

Rewards come from hard work. I was raised with the concept that hard work reaps rewards.  Unfortunately, working with the students of the Survey of Dance Teaching Methodology Class is bringing awareness to me that the majority of people under the age of twenty five have little to no work ethic. I believe this is due in part to the fact that many of these young adults were not raised with the same respect for work ethic as the people of my generation.

Though there are several very hard working students in the class who have welcomed the information Dora and I have been providing, and have been completing their assignments and fulfilling their obligations as students, the past week’s documents we provided (for their benefit!), were met with some criticism. My favorite criticism being, “you’re just giving us way too much information…it’s too much to take in…” Considering that only three weeks prior, this particular individual and several others had complained to me that “I have no idea what we are supposed to do…Dora hasn’t told us anything…she needs to give us something to follow…what does she mean for us to do about the lesson plans…”

Of course, Dora had provided plenty of information to guide the students on what to do in class. She also provided information on how and where to find information to help them to complete assignment and fulfill their obligations as students in the class. All the information she provided in class is the only information I received and used to research and create the “Dance Teaching Methodology Lesson Plan,” the “Dance Teaching Methodology Dance Standards Study Guide,” the “Dance Teaching Methodology Suggested Reading,”  document, and the “Dance/Fitness Certifications and Continuing Education Resources for Dance/Fitness Instructors” documents.
Though I was a bit stunned, even put off by the reaction of the students to “all the information you keep throwing at us…” Dora was very reassuring and helped to bring my focus on the students who have been welcoming and using the information to their benefit. She also addressed the subject in class with all of the students which I believe will make a difference in the engagement and work ethic of a few more. I sure hope so, since the information I provided in the “Bio/Professional Summary Worksheet” and the “Bio/Resume Portfolio Prep” documents I created this week is really going to impact their performance in an exciting activity I’m preparing for them: a mock audition and workshop with Jim Keith and Jackie Sleight from The Movement Talent Agency.

3. Calasanz.MelissaAdylia LEAP 198

Weekly Reflection Paper Senior Project GCC DANCE 107 Internship

Weekly Reflection Paper No. 4 of 10

Calasanz.MelissaAdylia 1

 Saint Mary's College of California

LEAP 198 Senior Project 

Student Supervisor of the Glendale Community College

DANCE 107

Survey of Dance Teaching Methodology Class

Weekly Reflection Paper No. 4

Last week’s frustration with the disinterest, as well as the lack of work ethic demonstrated by the students of the DANCE 107 Survey of Dance Teaching Methodology class, has been replaced with a clearer focus and intensified determination to get everything I can out of this internship experience.

Though the last discussion Dora and I had with the class appeared to be successful with several of the students, we realized that the information was not reaching the students who hadn’t been showing up to class. Dora and I discussed the matter a little more after class and we agreed that Moodle is definitely going to be useful in addressing this issue. However, we needed to find a way to address communication and accountability issues with the students immediately.

Dora suggested I create a document to send to the students, outlining the issues of attendance and personal responsibility. That is all Dora had to tell me in order for me to create a document. Because, not only are all the expectations and responsibilities of the students clearly listed in the DACNE 107 syllabus that was handed out to each student the first week of class, Dora read the syllabus out loud to the class, and she kept referring to it for the first two weeks for “those of you who are new to Glendale College…who may have been late as you figured out traffic and parking…”

Attendance or lack thereof, is a huge issue at Glendale Community College. I happen to be enrolled in three classes at the college. I have been appalled by the amount of students who arrive late. Some arrive as late as 30-45 minutes into an hour and a half class! Most of the time, there are at least 1/3 of the seats empty until halfway through a class!

As a student, I have been observing how teachers deal with the situation of attendance and late assignments.  My HEALTH 104 professor, Coach Bryan Ramon, is very clear about it. When he’s gotten a question about when an assignment is due, a missed a test, or a missed class, etc., he answers simply: “We’ve gone over it in class, it’s in your syllabus, if you don’t have it, it’s on Moodle.” He doesn’t discuss it; he just moves on to the topic. Rob Kibler, my ART 111 professor is even less accommodating. I bet I’ve heard him say the following, at least ten times: “If you miss class, you miss the handouts. If you’re late, you miss the information. Tough! Not my problem. If you don’t care, why should I?” Oh, and if someone looks bored, he has no problem saying “How rude! What if I came to your house and looked bored like that while you were trying to tell me something. If I bore you, leave!” I think he’s my hero! J

With Dora’s guidance and support, as well as the great examples of the two wonderful professors I mentioned, I am even more motivated to find the most efficient means possible to best communicate with a younger generation; a generation that appears to have a much shorter attention span than the people with whom I am used to working. In fact, I’ve become so motivated I visited the Moodle Education center two weeks ahead of schedule.

I was able to meet with Connie Lantz, the Instructional Technology Support Specialist for Glendale College.  She set me up with a mock template so I could begin exploring Moodle’s features. That night, I stayed up until 2am inputting DANCE 107 assignments. It’s an incredibly user-friendly utility. Hopefully we can have the DANCE 107 class ready before next semester.

 In addition to all the fun I’ve been having with Moodle, I created the “DANCE 107 Survey of Dance Teaching Methodology Student Responsibilities & Accountability” and the “DANCE 107 Dance Audition Workshop Notice” documents. I am thrilled to have secured Jim Keith and Jackie Sleight to give these students a little dose of tough love and reality! J

I am hopeful the hard working students will continue to get all the materials they need, and hopeful the less motivated students will have no choice but to glean some information in the process. I am certain I am gaining tons of useful information! J

4. Calasanz.MelissaAdylia LEAP 198

Weekly Reflection Paper Senior Project GCC DANCE 107 Internship

Weekly Reflection Paper No. 5 of 10

Calasanz.MelissaAdylia 1

 Saint Mary's College of California

LEAP 198 Senior Project 

Student Supervisor of the Glendale Community College

DANCE 107

Survey of Dance Teaching Methodology Class

Weekly Reflection Paper No. 5

There is so much about this week that I’ve found to be enlightening, rewarding, and inspiring. As I’ve comfortably found my rhythm assisting Dora with clerical and administrative duties, notifying students of upcoming assignments, creating study guides, and anticipating transferring class content to Moodle, I spent quite a bit of time researching the lasted trends in the dance industry, and how the information relates to interviewing and auditioning for professional dance opportunities.

During my research, I stumbled upon the “Cedars-Sinai/USC Glorya Kaufman Dance Medicine Center “THE DANCER AS THE ULTIMATE ATHLETE AN INTERACTIVE CONFERENCE ON THE MERGING OF DANCE AND SPORTS.” I mentioned the event to Dora and was delighted that she was interested in attending.

According to the flyer, “The fourth annual conference is designed to bring together physicians, dancers and athletes to discuss the care, treatment and prevention of dance-related injuries. In addition to offering 11 breakout sessions, this year’s conference will also include a question and answer session with celebrity panelists Greg Louganis and Cathy Rigby,” however, Dora and I left the event with the same impression: it was an enjoyable event, but it provided nothing innovative in Sports/Dance/Medicine. In my opinion, it was just a bunch of fluff, offering little to no new insight on the care and prevention of dance-related injuries.

The Monday following the Cedar’s event, was the Dance Audition Workshop I helped to arrange for the students. It was led by Jim Keith, President/Partner/Agent of The Movement A Talent Agency, and Jackie Sleight, Choreographer, Director, and Educator. As I mentioned in previous Reflection Papers, much of the information I have complied and shared with the class has been met with underwhelming interest by some of the students. On the day of the audition, it was terribly obvious which students did not do their homework. In some cases, we wondered if they had even read the flyer. Thankfully, there were several students who obviously took the information to heart and did very well during the audition.

It was such an incredible experience to witness Jim and Jackie work as a team to give the students the cold hard fact of the dance and entertainment world. Jackie Sleight’s generosity and passion as an educator appeared to have a tremendous impact on the students. There is no doubt Jackie had an enormous impact on me. It was extremely humbling as well as empowering to have Jackie point to both me and Dora and say, “listen to what these two women have to say…they have so much information to give you…be greedy it take it all in…listen to what they have to say!” To be acknowledged by someone I admire, and respect, and studied with almost twenty years ago, was so inspiring.

Jackie’s acknowledgement, and working with the students to help prepare them to present a professional image as a dance educator or professional dancer, reminded me how important it is to practice what I preach. I realized I needed to start evaluating my experience and my credentials, and began working on updating my professional image. I worked on updating my website and resume-both of which I have neglected for the last two years while I have been in the LEAP Program. You can find my updated information at www.ControlledBurnFitness.com

By guiding the students who are hungry for success, I’ve realized how much I really miss working with people who are hungry to succeed and who embrace hard work and step up to challenges. Though I’ve discontinued working in-person with personal training clients for the last year, I began providing personalized online training plans; on-line and over the phone nutritional guidance; and have conducted coaching sessions over the phone; as well as continued to attend, participate in, and support clients at endurance events. I am now even more motivated to quickly finish my degree and get back to work. I miss making a difference! J

5. Calasanz.MelissaAdylia LEAP 198

Weekly Reflection Paper Senior Project GCC DANCE 107 Internship

Weekly Reflection Paper No. 6 of 10

Calasanz.MelissaAdylia 1

 Saint Mary's College of California

LEAP 198 Senior Project 

Student Supervisor of the Glendale Community College

DANCE 107

Survey of Dance Teaching Methodology Class

Weekly Reflection Paper No. 6

The Wednesday following the Dance Audition Workshop with Jim Keith and Jackie Sleight, Dora held a “round table” discussion with the students of the DANCE 107 class who had participated in the workshop. Hearing each of the students give their perspective about the experience they had in the workshop was as enjoyable as it was validating.

Many of the students who had not completed their Bio/Resume assignments conveyed how they now realize that working on their professional appearance on paper, is as important as important as working on their professional physical appearance in person. Several students took the initiative and asked me to take a look at their dance educator bio, resume, and pictures, as well as their performance bio, resume, and pictures. They not only wanted my opinion, they wanted to know what they could do to make them better.

Considering the resistance that Dora and I were receiving from the students in regards to the assignments we had given to help prepare the students for the audition workshop, and to begin work on their portfolios, it was great to see the students finally understanding the importance of going through the process that each assignment requires.

In addition to the students’ realization that their on-paper appearance needs some work, many students got the wake-up-call that they really needed to heed the advice we have been giving about taking dance classes outside of the comfortable confines of Glendale Community College. Several students expressed how they were “over their head” when it came to executing the simple across the floor exercises that they were given. Additionally, many students realized they needed quite a bit more work when it came to picking up choreography.

Thanks to observing the students as they participated in the workshop, and having to opportunity to hear about the students’ experiences afterwards, I now know the moments, hours, and days of frustration were definitely worth it. I am absolutely proud of the work I put into the Bio/Resume documents, and Bio/ Resume workshop. I presented to the class. With each week I become more aware of how much I enjoy mentoring young dancers. It is exciting to be a part of the process of helping these young dancers gain the tools they need to reach their goals.

Additionally, the discussion about the workshop with the students in the Dance Teaching Methodology class, lent the opportunity to steer the discussion towards how the workshop experience impacted the way they see themselves as current/future dance educators. During the discussion, some students began to understand how much they really do need to learn before they can consider teaching dance to anyone but young children.

It was during this time in the discussion that I suggested to Dora that we create an assignment for the students to interview a dance teacher outside of Glendale Community College so they can better understand what is necessary to be a competent dance educator. I am thrilled to inform you that Dora gave me the go-ahead to put something together. I’ll be working on that later today. But first, I have been given the exciting task to prepare a rubric for grading the rough drafts of the students’ portfolios that will be turned in later this week. J

I cannot wait to see how well the students do with their portfolio rough drafts. Their success will be a testament to the hard work and thoughtfulness that went into preparing each assignment, for the arrangement of the workshop, and for each discussion.

‘till next week! J

6. Calasanz.MelissaAdylia LEAP 198

Weekly Reflection Paper Senior Project GCC DANCE 107 Internship

Weekly Reflection Paper No. 7 of 10

Calasanz.MelissaAdylia 1

 Saint Mary's College of California

LEAP 198 Senior Project 

Student Supervisor of the Glendale Community College

DANCE 107

Survey of Dance Teaching Methodology Class

Weekly Reflection Paper No. 7

I am beaming with pride! First of all, I am thrilled to inform you that Dora approved of the “TEMPLATE DANCE 107 Midterm Portfolio Evaluation” template I put together. However, I am even more thrilled that she gave me the go-ahead to take a stab at evaluating the portfolios on my own so she can assess my ability to objectively assess student’s work.

I took the task very seriously; as seriously as if these were my students, and I would treat my students as fairly and considerately as Dora treats her students. I am proud to say I have had the honor to have learned from the best. (FYI, Dora did not take it easy on my twenty years ago when I was her ballet student, and she expects even more from me now as one of her academic students! And I am thankful!)

While evaluating each portfolio, I knew how important it was to hold each portfolio up to the standards that had been set from the beginning of the semester. I understood that though some of the students had more dance and professional work experience than others, I could not take that into consideration. It was my responsibility to remain focused on the standards outlined in the syllabus and conveyed by Dora to the students throughout the weeks leading up to the portfolio rough draft deadline.  What was required from each component of the portfolio in order for it to be considered acceptable had been explicitly conveyed, and I was not to lose focus of that.

I am happy to report that I did a mighty fine job! Dora approved of my evaluations: “Excellent (what else, this is YOU). I will miss you terribly when the semester is over. Dora…” and instructed me to put together the “DANCE 107 Midterm Portfolio Evaluation” document. I also went ahead and put each of the evaluated portfolios in order from highest awarded points to the lowest which can been seen in the document, “DANCE 107 Midterm Portfolio Evaluation Standings.” And to take it a bit further, I cut each “evaluation standing” out to be placed in each portfolio so Dora could write in final comments, grades, etc. Though Dora graded each portfolio individually for her records, following her own rubric, she informed me that she agreed with my evaluations and that I did a good job.

I loved the process of evaluation. Not only did it give me the opportunity to review my knowledge and expertise in creating a respectable professional portfolio, I had the opportunity to learn from Dora about the guidelines a college dance professor has to follow when creating rubrics, following them throughout the evaluative process, and how everything must coincide with the lesson plan and syllabi.

In addition to the midterm portfolio evaluations, I completed quite a bit of work. I prepared a written assignment for “Senior Dance” and the corresponding document, “DANCE 107 Written Assignment Senior Dance.” In addition to the senior assignment and document, I prepared a document for another senior-related assignment, “DANCE 107 Teaching Dance to Seniors,” which is designed for the students to apply information they learned during the “Written Assignment Senior Dance” assignment and apply it to creating a lesson plan appropriate for active adults age 55+. And though we thought of the “Interview a Dance Educator” assignment during the week of the audition workshop, we held off on creating the document “DANCE 107 Interview a Dance Educator” til now, and it will be sent out on the day the “Written Assignment Senior Dance” is due.

Though I am loving all the work, Dora told me to “take the rest of the week and the weekend off!” She’s going to take a break too! J

7. Calasanz.MelissaAdylia LEAP 198

Weekly Reflection Paper Senior Project GCC DANCE 107 Internship

Weekly Reflection Paper No. 8 of 10

Calasanz.MelissaAdylia 1

 Saint Mary's College of California

LEAP 198 Senior Project 

Student Supervisor of the Glendale Community College

DANCE 107

Survey of Dance Teaching Methodology Class

Weekly Reflection Paper No. 8

There is no doubt that having a few days off from taking care of obligations related to interning as the DANCE 107 Student Supervisor has been welcome. However, being granted some time off does not mean I was enjoying margaritas on the Mexican Riviera. The enforced exile from hard work, thanks to Dora, came at the best time. I believe she told me to “take a break…you’ve done more than enough…” She knew I was heading out to Santa Rosa Island for some hard-core, physically intense, volunteer work with the Channel Island Restoration Group. Dora knows I have been getting very restless without exercise, sitting for long periods of time in all my classes, and at home sitting in front of the computer, working on projects and writing papers. She also knows that we share a similar mindset: while in movement, we have some of the best mental clarity. 

I couldn’t wait to head off to the island to get off the beaten path to clear my mind in beautiful, unforgiving, territory. I knew I would come back recharged and ready to tackle what needed to be tamed in preparation for the students’ final exams.

Though I had minimal down-time on the island, I had enough down-time to afford myself the luxury to head out alone before dawn for a three mile scamper along the coast to watch the sunrise from the pier. The solitude allowed moments for me to reflect on how far I’ve come in over twenty years.  Though I’ve come so far from when I was a 19 year old student at Glendale Community College, struggling to survive on my own, with no family, no car, an apartment of my own, and a 40 hour work week that was driving me nuts, I am back in the same place. The reflection gave me the opportunity to realize that I was once just like the young struggling dance students I was assisting Dora with, in the DANCE 107 class.

Standing on the pier on my last morning on the island, I couldn’t help but empathize with the students. I remembered what it was like when I had been a young college student-confused, unsupported, without direction, but with a desire to dance.  The memories reminded me of last week and how Dora and I became aware that several of the dance majors are experiencing some intense personal and familial struggles. Thinking of their struggles reminded me of how the nineteen year old “me” navigated the turbulent waters of tying to balance school, finances, and my love for dancing. I know I managed because of how I had been impacted by some wonderful dance educators: Terry Markwell, Lynn McMurrey, Dora, Claude Thompson, Cameron English, Kim Blank, etc.

Though I remember those teachers fondly, it is not because they were easy on me. In fact, they never lowered their standards to accommodate any of my “issues.” They didn’t “accommodate my issues” because they didn’t know about my issues. It is only now that I am back a Glendale that Lynn and Dora now know that at nineteen, my Grandma who had raised me had had a stroke, and mother was dying as I was failing my academic classes, yet coming to any dance class I get to.

Stepping away from the students while I was gone helped rejuvenate my desire to help mentor the ones who work hard and demonstrate a passion for dance. I was also able to whip up the documents “DANCE 107 4 Week Workshop Written Assignment” and  “DANCE 107 Getting to Moodle,” so quickly because I pretty much mapped them out in my head while I was collecting acorns from Santa Rosa Scrub Oaks. I will continue to do my best to guide the others who lack a decent work ethic and appear to be a bit lost, and perhaps, twenty years from now, they will remember the advice Dora and I gave this semester.

8. Calasanz.MelissaAdylia LEAP 198

Weekly Reflection Paper Senior Project GCC DANCE 107 Internship