Rhem-Westhoff

Assignment IX – Future Career Plans

EDT 646

03/30/06

I graduated from the University of South Florida (USF) in 1984 with a degree in computers called Management Information Systems. This degree is from the College of Business. I was an education major who became a bit bored and at the same time fascinated with computers so I switched majors.

After working in the computer industry for five years, the urge to teach never left me. I went back to school to become certified to teach. Since that time I have been back and forth between education and the technology field. I was reaping the benefits of the virtual world long before I started hearing and reading about how flat the world was becoming. For a while I took full advantage of what the virtual world offers women who want to work and be home with their babies. I developed wireless software from home in Michigan for a company based in Florida. I am currently teaching the Internet, Network and Security Technologies class at the Muskegon Area Career Tech Center. For me it is the best of both worlds. I have access to state-of-the-art equipment to assist with the ongoing challenge of keeping up with technology, and I get to spend my day teaching and mentoring kids. How fortunate I am to love my job!

Friedman emphasizes the need for versatility, flexibility and mobility. I am not intimidated or concerned on a personal level about being able to do that. Having spent the last twenty years moving back and forth between two careers, I know I will be capable of versatility, flexibility and mobility. I also have no trouble learning new things and actually crave the intellectual stimulation if I am ever in a lull period in my job. Like all of us in the world of technology, every time I re-entered the industry, it was never the same. I love the challenge of trying to keep up with the technological changes. I benefit from my job in that regard because my students spend hours on the Web and are always full of new information for me. They arrive every day with tidbits about what new security technology is available to counteract the latest hack, how the people in China are proxying around the Google censor filters, gigabit wireless capabilities, and so on.

To keep myself marketable as the world converges on a flattening playing field, I plan to do what has been necessary all along in this field - keep learning. I plan to read everything I can and continue to listen to others in the field, including my students. As technology evolves, I will continue to work towards the latest networking and security certifications. I will also keep my teaching certificate current both in Michigan and in Florida. Earning a Masters degree in Educational Technology is also part of the plan.

My first love is teaching technology to kids. Should there ever be a reason I cannot teach, I would re-enter the technology industry as a network protocol analyst or security consultant. I love to analyze packets on the wire and troubleshoot why the traffic patterns are what they are. For example, did a security breach occur and we are being scanned or is a router just misconfigured? I am confident that I have the right combination of skills to stay on top of my game in both or at least one of these two fields and remain employable.

Some things I would like to do include learning another language. I spoke Dutch fluently when I was young because we lived in the Netherlands. I have such respect for multi-lingual people and would like to add that to my asset arsenal. If I was not in my mid forties I would consider going back to school for environmental engineering. I think green technology is the wave of the future and I am an avid environmentalist. Therefore I think that would be a wonderful place to be. Who knows, perhaps I am not too old. When I retire I am going to be a park ranger and volunteer fulltime for environmental causes as well as tutor kids who struggle in school.