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First Appearance
Born as the youngest of three children, I was raised in a family that valued quality time, self-awareness and hard work. As the baby of the family I was afforded some luxuries over my siblings like watching television deemed unsuitable for a younger audience and thus a love of all things cinematic was born! -
Early Schooling
My first encounter with structured, school-like hours was through a gymnastics preschool that I went to with my best friend called Jumping Beans! I remember that this environment encouraged play and fairness above most things and as long as you played nicely with everyone you got a sticker around your birthday and the first pick of juice. As a child, I remember that picking up my juice first was very exciting and I think that was my first clear behavioural reinforcement outside of my home. -
Elementary
I was fortunate to be at an elementary school that fostered my love of reading and I found extrinsic rewards through "Book Bucks" that encouraged my own pace as a reader and kept me motivated while also giving me some of the recognition I needed as a child. -
My Middle Years
I got to live out a bit of my rebellious phase in my middle school years but I think that this has helped to better prepare me for my time teaching middle years. Now when anyone raises an eyebrow in response to my choice to teach this age group I can confidently assure them that I want to spend time with this age group and I have a fairly good concept of what they can dish out and most importantly in my opinion, where the student may be coming from. -
High School
I found a love of improv during my last years in high school and met new people through this extracurricular team that later turned into a credit course after I graduated. Improv taught me many skills and helped grow my confidence in my abilities as an entertainer and a speaker. I have an easier time thinking on my feet and removing myself to see the breadth and depth of a situation. After graduating I was asked to audition for a theatre company as had a brief run as a part of an opening act! -
For the Love of Skiing
After downhill competitive ski racing for ten years, I hung up my skin suit and took my CSIA Level 1 to get certified as an instructor. I loved coaching because I could set a course that some would excel at and others that they would find challenging but seeing the skier understand how to adapt to the new course and implement learning was really exciting for me. I coached with my old team for four years and it was here that I thought, "If I could see that light bulb every day, I'd be content." -
The Old College Try
The world is my oyster! But finding specifically what spoke to me as a student was challenging in the first year of my post-secondary education. I ended up taking a lot of psychology courses and finding that I was passionate about them but my desire to teach and grow with new learners was stronger. I appreciate the psychology courses I took and hope to continue my education in some psychology capacity but I am so grateful for Red Deer College's Middle Years program. This program gave me clarity. -
The Professional Middle Years
Finding this program was the best thing that could have happened to me in my search for education. I've been pushed and worked harder than I ever thought I could and through that found out new things about myself, my work style and how I deal with both stress and success. I also found really great friends who helped me through this journey and I can absolutely say that I am a better version of myself looking to graduation than the Britt who walked in a right on time for our first meeting.
