Internship Application

Karla Marie Griffen

My name is Karla Griffen. I am a hard working senior at Western Michigan University. Here is a brief summary of my experiences to give you a little better understanding of who I am. I am hoping that from this brief insight you will be able to determine if I fit as an intern in your school.

First of all I will tell you my experiences with children in school and the community. When I attended South Christian High School I was heavily involved with an organization called Connections. This organization provided support for the students at South Christian High School with disabilities; both inside school and outside. I was on the council of this organization for 4 years and was voted in as president for 2 and a half years. Throughout high school I also worked as a peer tutor for 2 years. My freshman year I tutored an eighth grade girl, in all subjects, twice a week. My senior year I tutored a girl with mild cognitive impairments once a week, in all subjects. In the fall of 2003 I was a pre-intern at Northeastern Elementary. I worked with children with cognitive impairments, and learning disabilities, from ages 6-11. In the spring of 2004 I was a pre-intern at the Van Buren Learning Center. I worked with children with severe cognitive impairments from ages 9-15. In the fall of 2004 I was a pre-intern at Loy Norrix High School. I worked with students with learning disabilities and students with normal cognition. I worked with students from 9^th to 12^th grade. All of these experiences were beneficial and helpful to see the broad spectrum of students with disabilities.

Secondly I will describe my working experiences. I have been employed at the Byron Center Family Restaurant, outside of Grand Rapids, for 7 years. I have worked multiple positions in the restaurant. Throughout my years of work there I have had the chance to meet many different people, two in particular. I frequently visited two older gentlemen who were in the nursing home near by. I visited them for two years, until one passed away, and the other was re-married. I also worked at Croyden Avenue School for 6 months. I worked with students ages 10-15, with autism and behavioral aggression. This was a neat, but trying experience. I have learned how to be punctual, responsible, and relate with others through my work experience.

Thirdly, I will share with you my schooling and goals. Throughout my education I have found it to be important to take something from every experience you get. I learned that while an experience may appear trying, you can always learn something from it. I have had the chance to meet, learn from, and work with some amazing educators at Western Michigan. I am proud of the work and effort I have put forward toward my schooling. I take my studies very seriously, as they are to prepare me for what I have worked so hard for. I am working to graduate with an equivalent to a double major. My double majors would be Interpersonal Communications and Special Education. I am hoping to learn more of the path I want to take through my intern teaching. I would like to attend Kalamazoo Valley Community College after I obtain my degree from Western Michigan. I would like to be certified in American Sign Language. I would also like to obtain my masters degree in Special Education someday.

Now that you know my schooling background, I will explain the activities I have been involved in outside of school. Outside of my high school activity participation I am an active member in three organizations. The first is the Council for Exceptional Children. I have found a lot of valuable resources for teaching, through participating in this organization. Secondly, I am an active member in the American Cancer Society. I help out in raising money currently, and would like to become more active in the future. I am also an active member in the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. I help in raising money currently, same as the A.C.S., but would also like to become more active in the future. I enjoy being involved with organizations that are working for a great cause.

Finally, I am going to tell you a little bit about why I want to become a teacher. I have always respected the great outlook children with disabilities hold. When I worked with the students at South Christian High School, I learned that I have so many opportunities and so much to be thankful for. I learned that I can change another person’s life for the better. I want to continue this work. I want to show children with disabilities that they can achieve their dreams, just as they have shown me this. I want to learn how to be as effective as possible when working with children with disabilities. I want to teach myself as well as the children about the world around us, and the possibilities we have within it. As a future teacher I think that it is important to learn about the school I am involved with and the values it holds. I also think that it is necessary to learn about the children that I am going to be working with. As a teacher the best way to teach, I believe, is through learning where a child is coming from and the experiences that they have had. I want to work to become an effective communicator with others in my building as well. I have found that the best resource available is those that you teach with. Overall, I am very excited to teach. I want to retain more applicable knowledge about the field of teaching, as many resources as possible, and just learn how to become a great and effective teacher. Thank you for taking the time to read my application.