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Ian
Student
Conway, South Carolina
2
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What is the best way to establish connections for a soon to be physical education teacher?
I will be moving to an area I have never lived in to attend college. Learning some methods on how to establish connections would be very beneficial to me.
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2 answers
Jennifer Bloomquist- CIPP/US/E, CIPM
Risk Specialist for Privacy and Confidentiality Impact Accessments
11
Answers
Clarksville, Tennessee
Updated
Jennifer’s Answer
Hi Ian,
This is a really good question. I'm unsure if you're going to be a freshman or a transfer student. The size of your college could potentially going to make this easier or harder, depending on where you are moving and going to school. If you're attending a small to medium sized school, you might have education courses right away, especially if you're a transfer student. If you're a freshman, you might not have education courses until you finish your general education requirements, especially if you're going to a liberal arts college. You can ask a college advisor or other professor if there is a particular building or set of buildings where the education courses are taught if you aren't already assigned education courses. In person, physical proximity to other people with whom you want to connect is a lot easier. If there is a common area in one or more of those buildings, you can introduce yourself to the other students who share the common areas.
Some schools house students into dorms according to interests/majors/etc. If your school does this, you could ask to be assigned to the dorm or floor with either athletes and/or education students. This type of arrangement may or may not be possible.
If you're looking to make connections who are actually physical educations teachers and are working in an elementary, middle, or high school, you can ask around the education department at your school to talk to whomever places observation and/or student teachers into schools. People who set up those arrangements might have someone in mind who graduated in the last few years who is a PE teacher who stayed in the area and wouldn't mind being a mentor or friend.
I don't know if PE works this way, but some people in other areas of teaching get to know people in the profession by volunteering at a local elementary/middle/high school for after school activities such as intramurals, coaching, make-up sessions, etc. You would have to get the school's permission and understanding of what your role might be as a volunteer. Even if your volunteering/tutoring wasn't directly in PE, you could get to know the teachers at the school.
If you like going to high school sporting events, you could invite other people you've met or go alone to a football/baseball/basketball/etc. game. After the game ends, if the opportunity arises, you could introduce yourself to the coach. They might be a PE teacher or be able to introduce you to one or more of the PE teachers at the school.
I know some of these suggestions may or may not be feasible, especially if you're introverted. It can seem challenging to meet people in a new town/city. Some people find finding, making, and keeping connections easier than other people. If you're a freshman, everyone will be new. When everyone is new, it can seem easier to make connections, especially if at least one extroverted person with whom you want to be friends crosses your path. Some people find it more challenging when everything and everyone is new. Only you know yourself.
If you're a person that feels stressed or overwhelmed about meeting new people, one thing to keep in mind is that there isn't a set timeline in which to make connections. If it doesn't happen immediately or strike out on the first few tries, it's all about how you frame what you're setting out to do. The goal is be yourself and meet like-minded people. Not everyone you meet will have bandwidth for new connections. Be gentle with yourself if the first few people you meet don't have bandwidth.
I wish you all the best!
Jennifer
This is a really good question. I'm unsure if you're going to be a freshman or a transfer student. The size of your college could potentially going to make this easier or harder, depending on where you are moving and going to school. If you're attending a small to medium sized school, you might have education courses right away, especially if you're a transfer student. If you're a freshman, you might not have education courses until you finish your general education requirements, especially if you're going to a liberal arts college. You can ask a college advisor or other professor if there is a particular building or set of buildings where the education courses are taught if you aren't already assigned education courses. In person, physical proximity to other people with whom you want to connect is a lot easier. If there is a common area in one or more of those buildings, you can introduce yourself to the other students who share the common areas.
Some schools house students into dorms according to interests/majors/etc. If your school does this, you could ask to be assigned to the dorm or floor with either athletes and/or education students. This type of arrangement may or may not be possible.
If you're looking to make connections who are actually physical educations teachers and are working in an elementary, middle, or high school, you can ask around the education department at your school to talk to whomever places observation and/or student teachers into schools. People who set up those arrangements might have someone in mind who graduated in the last few years who is a PE teacher who stayed in the area and wouldn't mind being a mentor or friend.
I don't know if PE works this way, but some people in other areas of teaching get to know people in the profession by volunteering at a local elementary/middle/high school for after school activities such as intramurals, coaching, make-up sessions, etc. You would have to get the school's permission and understanding of what your role might be as a volunteer. Even if your volunteering/tutoring wasn't directly in PE, you could get to know the teachers at the school.
If you like going to high school sporting events, you could invite other people you've met or go alone to a football/baseball/basketball/etc. game. After the game ends, if the opportunity arises, you could introduce yourself to the coach. They might be a PE teacher or be able to introduce you to one or more of the PE teachers at the school.
I know some of these suggestions may or may not be feasible, especially if you're introverted. It can seem challenging to meet people in a new town/city. Some people find finding, making, and keeping connections easier than other people. If you're a freshman, everyone will be new. When everyone is new, it can seem easier to make connections, especially if at least one extroverted person with whom you want to be friends crosses your path. Some people find it more challenging when everything and everyone is new. Only you know yourself.
If you're a person that feels stressed or overwhelmed about meeting new people, one thing to keep in mind is that there isn't a set timeline in which to make connections. If it doesn't happen immediately or strike out on the first few tries, it's all about how you frame what you're setting out to do. The goal is be yourself and meet like-minded people. Not everyone you meet will have bandwidth for new connections. Be gentle with yourself if the first few people you meet don't have bandwidth.
I wish you all the best!
Jennifer
Michelle M.
Actress
3284
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Ian !
The best place that you will make connections will be right at your college once you start as an Education Major !
College is going to be the perfect way for you to meet new people, learn about opportunities, be involved in activities and new friends can help you learn about your new town or city. But for college students, it's all right there at their fingertips ! If you'll be Minoring in Physical Education, spend time in that department, too. Just make sure that you obtain your Teaching Credential in the state you want to teach in.
You'll have some free time to familiarize yourself with the local schools that you will potentially work at as a Physical Education teacher. You can go online and look up all the elementary, middle and high schools in the town you're moving to. Make a list of the schools with their addresses and when you get to your new town, you'll know just what schools there are. Visit the schools and ask if you can sit on the side to observe the P.E. class to become more familiar with the career.
You will build connections during the four years you are in college so you really should let things flow naturally and not depend on immediate contacts. You'll meet people, do not worry and you have four years before you go for your credential so think of it as an exciting venture. When you are a senior, you'll know exactly how you want to take your career.
Ask your college if you'll be doing student teaching in your Junior and Senior year as part of the Education Major. Also think about attending some local High School Sports events at your new town or city so you can observe the teams as they play.
As for making new friends, I would advise spending a lot of time in either the Education or Physical education Department. Get to know the students. Friendships will develop. If you will be living in the dorms, you are going to meet a lot of people and most likely have a roommate (depending on the college you're going to attend). Some students you will meet will be just like you, moved there from a different state or town.
So making personal and professional connections almost can't be planned, really. It's inevitable that you're going to meet all new people and go to all new places. Give yourself time to take it all in and you'll feel more comfortable about it. I did move very far away for college and to be honest, it was an excellent experience, but I had not worried about it before hand. Take it day by day and try not to be over-conscious about it because connections on and off campus are something that all students obtain, of course with some effort put forth.
Try not to rush things, you have four years before you can even get your teaching credential. Take one step at a time and enjoy every minute of it. It's your experience to have and no one can tell you how it will be. I wish you all the best and I hope this is something to think about !
The best place that you will make connections will be right at your college once you start as an Education Major !
College is going to be the perfect way for you to meet new people, learn about opportunities, be involved in activities and new friends can help you learn about your new town or city. But for college students, it's all right there at their fingertips ! If you'll be Minoring in Physical Education, spend time in that department, too. Just make sure that you obtain your Teaching Credential in the state you want to teach in.
You'll have some free time to familiarize yourself with the local schools that you will potentially work at as a Physical Education teacher. You can go online and look up all the elementary, middle and high schools in the town you're moving to. Make a list of the schools with their addresses and when you get to your new town, you'll know just what schools there are. Visit the schools and ask if you can sit on the side to observe the P.E. class to become more familiar with the career.
You will build connections during the four years you are in college so you really should let things flow naturally and not depend on immediate contacts. You'll meet people, do not worry and you have four years before you go for your credential so think of it as an exciting venture. When you are a senior, you'll know exactly how you want to take your career.
Ask your college if you'll be doing student teaching in your Junior and Senior year as part of the Education Major. Also think about attending some local High School Sports events at your new town or city so you can observe the teams as they play.
As for making new friends, I would advise spending a lot of time in either the Education or Physical education Department. Get to know the students. Friendships will develop. If you will be living in the dorms, you are going to meet a lot of people and most likely have a roommate (depending on the college you're going to attend). Some students you will meet will be just like you, moved there from a different state or town.
So making personal and professional connections almost can't be planned, really. It's inevitable that you're going to meet all new people and go to all new places. Give yourself time to take it all in and you'll feel more comfortable about it. I did move very far away for college and to be honest, it was an excellent experience, but I had not worried about it before hand. Take it day by day and try not to be over-conscious about it because connections on and off campus are something that all students obtain, of course with some effort put forth.
Try not to rush things, you have four years before you can even get your teaching credential. Take one step at a time and enjoy every minute of it. It's your experience to have and no one can tell you how it will be. I wish you all the best and I hope this is something to think about !