You Can Sit With Us

Picture it, you're in high school and it's lunch time and you're looking at the tables wondering where you're going to sit. It’s a dreadful feeling because you don't want to be excluded or thought of as a “loner”, so you hope you can sit by friends or even mere acquaintances. Does this sound familiar? Or was it just me that had these feelings and experiences in high school? *insert nervous laugh*

In high school we didn't have a choice to go, everyone had to go to high school. And most of the time our Elementary friends followed us to high school, so for the most part we were not entering High School alone. Having those connections and friends is what made High School bearable--a community of people to lean on.

If you're reading this, you most likely did the college thing and are now possibly considering a career in education. Maybe you are considering getting your teaching credential or maybe your Masters degree. Whatever the case, making the decision to go back to school well into your adult years can be terrifying. You may even feel as though you forgot how to make those connections you once made in high school--the connections that may have helped you get through those years of your life.

So, what does it mean to have a community at a school like Teachers College of San Joaquin (TCSJ) and is it important for our success?

A community is a source of social connection that can bring a sense of belonging. Going “through it” together bonds people and it can be a factor in our individual success. In my experience with Teachers College, I can say there is definitely a unique community here and it was incredibly helpful to me and contributed to my success here. Here’s why…

Instructors are “just like us”

A majority of the instructors here at TCSJ are currently in the educational field. They range from teachers, administrators, to district office employees (maybe even fellow co-workers). This means that they can connect with students (us) on a personal level, because they are in the “trenches” with us, workwise. So, in addition to teaching us the content necessary for a course, they are also an invaluable resource to us because of their experience in education. So, if we have a work problem for example, they most likely have a solution to help us.

Your peers are just like you

In addition to the instructors, your fellow classmates are also teachers or in the educational field (perhaps you even work for the same district). Talk about surrounding yourself with like minded people. After a day's work everyone is doing the same thing, going to class--and those can be good moments to bond and build relationships.

Educational connections are lifelong connections

After getting your credential or degree at TCSJ, those relationships don’t just end. The community doesn’t just disappear. Maybe one day you decide you want to get hired with a different school or district. Well, remember how I said that instructors and classmates are also in the educational field just like you? There is potential to run into your past instructors or classmates when exploring a new job location. Additionally, past instructors and classmates could very well be your colleagues, allowing you to continue to have that community at work.

Educational connections are lifelong connections and TCSJ fosters this community that allows for these connections to be made. So, what are you waiting for? Come sit with us.