Welcome IDS Students to the Cornerstone/Capstone Mentoring blog! We are very excited about this opportunity to get to know all of you and to be able to help you through your first semester of the Interdisciplinary course of study. My fellow group members and I will be posting a designated ‘blog topic’ each week for you to comment on and for us to respond to. We ask that in order to reply to us you COMMENT on our links instead of posting new blog topics, so that we can stay organized and respond to you as needed. We will be available to answer any questions you have throughout this course, so please don’t hesitate to ask us... & now let’s get started!
To begin I’ll tell you a little about myself- each week a new group member will be posting on the blog, and they will introduce themselves as well.
My name is and I am a senior (graduating in May, yay!) here at UCF. When I first began taking classes, I was very unsure of what path I wanted to take career wise. A friend of mine introduced me to the Interdisciplinary program and right away I knew it was the correct choice for me. My areas of study are Commerce and Education, with a minor in Mass Communications. I am looking forward to hopefully working in the Marketing field when I graduate; and eventually owning my own firm. I try to stay active and I am currently a member of UCF flag football and soccer intramural teams; I am definitely going to miss all of the extracurricular activities available here at our school when I graduate.
So to begin, tell us about you! Remember to comment to respond to this post; we look forward to hearing from you all.
What is your name and what do you like to do for fun?
What made you choose an IDS major, and how to do you explain it to others?
What are the advantages/disadvantages of an Interdisciplinary education?
Activity- After answering the above questions, tell us your areas of study and minor as well as what your dream job might be. Explain how you plan on integrating your education to work at this job, and then find us an example of this dream job online (using craigslist, monster.com etc.). Post your reply in a comment, and then reply to one other Cornerstone student. Thanks guys, have a great week!
1. Hey! My name is Stephanie and I love to bake cupcakes for fun and do pretty much any activity outside. I have been in many sports since I was younger (baton, fire baton, gymnastics, dance, soccer, and track and field!!). I was born and raised in Florida so I love the hot weather and the beach:). Currently I am learning how to surf better hehe.
ReplyDelete2. My freshman fall semester of college I needed emergency surgery right before finals week and due to university rules I was not allowed to make up my finals, so I had to medically with draw from the semester. When I returned the following semester my guidance counselor advised me to take some light classes in order to pick my GPA back up because the medical withdrawal would take the semester to be processed and submitted for approval. The classes I was advised to take were predominately humanities, completely apart from my original Biology Major. After this semester I was then advised that it would be best to change my major to Humanities because I had taken so many classes which would satisfy the Humanities Major before a Biology Major. About a semester after being a humanities major I realized I did not like studying the Humanities and my passion for Biology was still just as strong as it had been before. I became very stressed, feeling like I had not accomplished anything significant in any major until a friend told me about the Interdisciplinary Major. I explain this major to others as a way for people to study about other areas and us all of these areas to approach and solve problems. This major is also a way for people to broaden their areas of expertise. For example, if I had stayed as just a Biology student or a Humanities I would not have taken all the different classes I have now as an Interdisciplinary student, and I would not be able to incorporate these different views in solving the problems I will need to in any future career.
3. The advantages of Interdisciplinary education go along with what I stated above. The IDS major allows for a wider range of study which makes people more rounded. Granted I did not have as much of an interest in the Humanities as I did in other areas I can now use the knowledge I gained from taking Humanities as an area of study and apply it to solve problems in the future. The disadvantages of Interdisciplinary are minute to me. I feel that the only disadvantage of being an IDS major student is having to explain to people the seriousness of the degree. I find that many people who hear that you are an IDS student feel you are taking easy courses and do not receive in-depth knowledge in any subject area.
My two areas of study are Humanities and Behavioral and Social Science with a minor in criminal Justice. From the age of three I have wanted to be a veterinarian. In order to pay for veterinary school I plan on working as an animal biologist for the government. Having this job the areas of study I have would fit in perfectly. Humanities deals greatly in what it means to be human and the influence of nature in the lives of every human. Behavioral and Social Sciences also focuses on the reason why people act the way they do which will allow me to approach environmental issues with the behavior of individuals in mind. For example, determining how to encourage recycling. With a minor in criminal justice I will also be aware of laws and the process in which to go about issues. All of this same integration can also be used when I finally finish veterinary schoo!! :).
Example:
http://jobview.monster.com/Veterinarian-Job-Lake-Mary-FL-US-105412584.aspx
Stephanie Krall
Welcome to Cornerstone Stephanie, My name is Tamaria Tate and my areas of studies are Education and Behavioral Social science with a minor in Entrepreneurship. I am so glad that you did not allow the obstacles that were thrown at you to keep you down. It so hard to have a timeline and have to back track sometimes. I have to tell you as an older non traditional student,I has many setbacks, but because of this wonderful degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, I am now graduating after a long 12 year hurdle. Your areas of studies do work well together and you will be a great veterinarian and be able to advocate for our animals.
DeleteI agree with you about the disadvantages being small. When I was just at the career fair last month, it was a great speaking piece because everyone wanted to me to explain my major and it allowed me to show them my experiences and abilities.
We will have fun this semester talking!!!!
Nice to meet you Stephanie...You have an interesting story and I'm looking forward to hearing how you succeed. I'm sure you will! Your statement regarding disadvantages is well written and clear. You have developed a communication style that is easy to read and understand. I'm glad we are studying together.
DeleteHey Stephanie!
DeleteWhat an amazing story you shared about your journey to IDS. I am happy everything worked out for your good. :)
My name is Daphne Keys. For fun, I like to experience other cultures through travel and/or talking with people from other countries. I am working toward a healthier, more active lifestyle daily although, I work full time while carrying a full time class schedule.
ReplyDeleteMy IDS majors are Education and Behavioral Sciences (Anthropology) with a minor in Art History. I would like to apply the two majors in a career which helps parents (especially those in poverty) teach their children to love learning at a young age.
As an older student, who has changed directions a few times, the Interdisciplinary degree was a wise decision as I work to achieve my goals. Whether I end up applying the degree in a paying career, or apply it after I retire from the workforce, this education is of great value to me personally. Several disciplines apply to children in poverty and there are many things to consider when working with these families. My hope is to work in a Latin American country with families battling poverty. Education and Anthropology (understanding the culture of a people) will both play in depth roles in this type of work as we try to find an optimum solution to ending generational poverty.
Normally, when explaining IDS, I just tell people there are two focuses to the one major. Many understand due to a greater visibility amongst my age group of the concept and practical training on how an IDS degree might be helpful in our society and workplaces.
Here is one organization set up to help these children. There are many in Central and South America. Most provide financial help for uniforms and supplies while supporting the children through tutoring and help outside of the public school system, thus working with the current provision rather than working against it. http://www.educatingchildren.org/default.asp
I think the only disadvantage of an IDS is when I find something I'd like to pursue further, sometimes it isn't required for my educational plan. Life is filled with choices.
Hello Daphne, my name is Vanessa Perez and I will be one of your mentors this semester. My areas of study are also Education and Behavioral and Social Sciences, but my minor is in Communication Sciences and Disorders. I absolutely love your aspiration to work with families battling poverty. It is definitely something our society as well as other societies need help with. It seems like you already have a lot under your belt with all the travel and cultures you have been exposed too.
DeleteI believe having an IDS degree and using it effectively will be more beneficial than those with a single subject. We are able to apply multiple view points and gain insights to a particular situation to solve a problem more effectively.
I look forward to learn more about you and your goals, and hope we can both learn a lot from each other!
Hey Daphne! That sounds like a lot of fun to be able to travel around to experience the rest of the world! Do you know any other languages? I completely agree with what you said could be a disadvantage of the Interdisciplinary Studies and how life is full of so many choices. It is also great to see that you want to give back to others and help those in life. Good luck!
DeleteStephanie krall
Thanks, Vanessa. I'm glad to have a mentor with the same majors. It will be a great help as I struggle through the proposal process.
DeleteI think you are right about the IDS degree being beneficial in discussing an issue from several perspectives rather than just looking at it from one discipline's approach.
I'm looking forward to interacting more.
Stephanie...I am still learning Spanish - in Spanish 2 now. It will be very important for me to be able to communicate well with those I'm trying to help. Thank you for your encouragement!
Daphne,
DeleteI recently received an email about Teach for America. I'm not sure if you have heard about it, but in a nutshell it is a two year paid program for teaching in low-income communities. It is a big commitment and might not be what you are looking for, but I thought I would share. :)
Hello group! My name is Jana and for fun I like to RUN long distances, read books (especially in other languages), download new music and of course listen to it (also in other languages), I guess it fits to say that I also like to learn languages, just for fun. I like to travel, and wander around foreign cities with my Nikon and try to take creative photos, I like meeting new people who say interesting things, and of course I like the occasional party where I can loosen up and dance to good music.
ReplyDeleteWhat made you choose an IDS major, and how to do you explain it to others?
I actually have a difficult time explaining this to others. Here's what happened... I "graduated" in December 2010 with a Spanish major and a Business minor but on graduation day I found out I didn't pass one required class, and therefore didn't officially graduate. One option was to re-take the class the following summer, but by that time I had found other opportunities on the other side of the country (in Arizona) and instead of returning to Florida, I decided to change my major to something that could be completed online. So that's how I chose the IDS major, I already had one area of study and a minor, and my other area of study turned out to be Anthropology, which is pretty interesting at times.
What are the advantages/disadvantages of an Interdisciplinary education?
The advantages are that we are introduced to a variety of topics instead of just one, but this is also somewhat of a disadvantage because we may not be learning about any of these disciplines as in-depth as we could be if we were to choose just one. For those of us who know what we want to do with our lives, an interdisciplinary education is an excellent way to form our own path and learn the way we feel fits our goals.
My areas of study are Spanish and Anthropology, and my minor is Business. I'm not sure exactly what my dream job is, but it would be something international, where I'm required to interact with people from other cultures and speak other languages. My dream job would likely involve travel, and would occasionally (or always) be done remotely, for example online, with minimal time sitting in an office and a very flexible schedule. Over the years I've researched various jobs with travel guides or magazines, either as a writer or photographer, and I feel like I've been getting experience with this for the last 5 years, constantly traveling for months at a time whenever I get the chance.
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteHi Jana, you sound very adventurous! I always thought it would be cool to be able to speak different languages and then be able to communicate with people when I traveled. I'm working on Spanish, but once I master that, I think that will be all for me. Anthropology is a very interesting area of study. How did you end up picking that for your other area?
DeleteHey Jana!
DeleteIt is awesome that you took a possibly devastating event and found a way to make a better opportunity out of it. I also get feedback that IDS does not give enough in depth exposure to any given subject area but I believe each student isn't the same and we all have different desires in regard to our education.
Hey! That is amazing that you can learn languages and you know so many! I struggled to learn only Spanish haha. I have taken an anthropology class and can see why you find so much enjoyment in it. Good luck with your major.:)
DeleteStephanie Krall
My name is Ashley. I love doing anything athletic. I really enjoy hiking, riding my bike and dancing. I was born in Florida, and I love the Florida weather (heat). I visited Massachusetts this past year and it was so cold and gloomy, it really made me appreciate our sunny weather. Math is not only my favorite subject, but also the only subject I'm any good at. Peoples first comment is usually, "your so lucky your good at math." I disagree, as much as I love math I think I would rather be good at all the other subjects, and bad at math than vice versa. With that being said, I decided to pursue teaching high school math.
ReplyDeleteOriginally when I started at UCF I was a Mathematics Education major. After two years of taking the required courses I decided I knew a lot a math and not a lot about students and how they learn. So I decided IDS would be perfect for me. I now have all of my math and education complete and am taking behavioral sciences classes. This is exactly what I felt like I was missing. I'm learning how people communicate, learn, and act depending on their surroundings, childhood experiences, and influences. When other people ask why I chose IDS I tell them that instead of just learning math and how to run a classroom, I also get to learn how students best learn, interact, as well as better understand where they are coming from. All of these things will help me to be a better teacher.
The advantages of an Interdisciplinary education are that you have the opportunity to learn about many areas of study, rather than just one or two. A disadvantage is that you might not learn as much about all of the areas your studying as you might with just one.
My minor is Education, and my areas of study are Computation Sciences (upper level math), and Behavior Sciences (psychology & sociology). My dream job would be to teacher high school math. I plan on using my math skills to teach the material, my education skills to manage my classroom and stay organized, and my behavioral skills to teach in a way that my students will best understand and be able to utilize the material. You can't find a teaching job on craigslist, however I would like to teach in Volusia County, so I could go to their website http://blackboard.volusia.k12.fl.us/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp and look for and apply to jobs there.
Hello Ashley. My name is Sean Wells and I will be part of the mentoring group this semester. We are really happy to have you as part of our team. I am an Education/Behavioral Sciences Focus IDS Major, and an aspiring Math Teacher. You are very fortunate to have focused on Math Education early in your college career.
DeleteGrowing up in Massachusetts and New York, I recognize that the winters there are not for everyone. But I'm sure glad I can golf in December here in Florida!!
I felt the same way you do about being an IDS major. I can assure you, however, that you will realize very quickly that using your two foci will give you a leg up on single focus students. You will find yourself analyzing situations from multiple angles on a regular basis.
Have faith that you will find a job. From the research I have done, they are always looking for quality math teachers who want to go the extra mile to make sure students fully understand the material before the FCAT. Stay the course!!
Happy to have you. Good luck this semester.
Sean
Hi Sean. It is so nice to finally meet someone in this major that wants to be a math teacher. I've had the opportunity to meet many people with an array of minors and areas of study, very interesting and creative people I might add.
DeleteI feel to little people analyze situations from multiple angles like you said, and it's so important. All students are not the same, and therefore should not be taught the same. The behavioral sciences classes I've been taking have been opening my eyes to this and how to address it.
I feel very confident that I will find a job. I'm currently working on signing up for my subject area exam, and professional education exam. Have you taken either of these yet?
Nice to meet you, and good luck to you as well!
Ashley Monk
Ashley,
DeleteIt is intersting that we have the same goals. I also love math! I love that numbers never change. I also want to be a high school math teacher. Like you, I also majored in Behavioral Science because that has alot to do with how and why students learn. Currently, I am taking Motivation and it helps to know why people react to certain things the way that they do. If I know the why, I can learn the how to help them.
Happy semester!
Hi, my name is Francine Bacchus and I enjoying reading and volunteering. I chose IDS because I thought it would give me a well rounded exposure to my areas of interest (Communications, Non Profit Management and Modern Language). When people ask me to explain my major I enthusiastically explain that instead of doing one major I get to explore 3 and still graduate on time. :) The advantages of this major is the exposure and classes like Cornerstone that can guide me. I cannot think of any personal disadvantages at the moment (I hope there are none).
ReplyDeleteMy dream job is to open my own non profit catering to young girls and use my communications discipline to travel the world speaking to girls and to use my education with my Modern Language discipline to publish books to empower girls :). The only person I could think of who has a similar job is maybe Oprah or Tyra Banks. I couldn't find any job listings like that during my search.
I wish you all great success this semester! :)
Francine
Hey Francine! Pleasure to have you on the blog this semester! You know, there is an upper level elective course for Service Learning. You should look into it. You can work for any non-profit so long as they have not political/religious affiliation. Great way to use that passion for service to cash in some college credit :)
Delete~Hope
Hi Francine,
ReplyDeleteMy name is Sara Farinelli and I'll be one of your mentors this semester! My focuses are Education and Physical sciences with a minor in health services administration. I would love to work with children in title 1 schools so I can try and reach them, motivate them to do well.
I think that this is a great major with a lot of opportunities. The only disadvantage I have come across is that a lot of employers don't know what it is. You have to explain it to a lot of people and they sometimes don't understand. You explain it very well though. I always like to say that it made my education very diverse.
I wish you the best of luck with your book! I think it's a great book to write. Girls really need a role model so they can learn to respect themselves! There are so many role models out there that aren't the best. Like the 'lovely' Jersey Shore cast.
Good luck with this semester and your dreams!
Hello everyone! My name is Rafaelina Mercado. Something I like to do for fun is read. Last December I traded some books for an Amazon Kindle touch. I love it. With having a full-time job and being a full-time student, I don't read it as much as I would like to, but I take the time. It is a great way to relieve some stress. I also like to exercise. I am in the process of trying to lose some weight so I am going to Zumba classes. They are a great cardio workout and I get to dance to some great songs. This is also a great way to get rid of stress.
ReplyDeleteThis is my first semester as an IDS student. Last semester, I was an Elementary Education Major with a minor in Psychology. I love to teach. When I realized that taking the internship meant not working for a year, I was very nervous. So I decided to change my major. As an IDS student, I can finish sooner (In August!) and earn bachelors necessary for my teaching career. I also like this major because we get to concentrate on two majors and a minor. I am learning things that I would have never learned as an Elementary Education student.
I really liked learning about three different subject areas at the same time. I feel as an IDS student, we are more prepared for the work force because we know about many things. I feel that a disadvantage would be that this major choice still isn’t as popular as others so when I describe my major, many people haven’t heard of it. I think it is perfect for those students who aren’t conventional. You have to be able to concentrate on many things at once.
My areas of studies are Life & Biomedical Sciences and Behavioral and Social Sciences with a minor in Education. My dream job is a 10th grade Geometry Teacher. I don’t want to start there, but I do want to end up there. I plan on using my education to help my students. I think that the teaching style of embedding fear to get your students to work doesn’t exist anymore. You have to use psychology. Teaching is a science and we must use any and every resource to make students learn. I feel that the teaching motto should be, “Whatever it takes to make a student learn”. Of course, I only mean what is legal to do. When I start teaching, I want to find a job at an Elementary School. I would prefer K-2 but I don’t have a preference. I work at an elementary school and have worked with students in grades K-5. I can find a job opening at www.osceola.k12.fl.us. It is the districts main website and I can look under job vacancies. They come out each Monday morning.
My name is Jodi Farbish. I am one of the Capstone students. In my free time I enjoy going to or watching football and basketball games. I am a Miami Hurricanes, Dolphins, and Heat fan. So, naturally, I am from Miami. I love just being outside even if it’s just walking around the outlets or around winter park.
ReplyDeleteI understand that my IDS major will allow me to explore the areas in which I am interested in instead of only focusing on one, as other students do. To other students, I explain my major such as taking half the classes for 2 different majors so that way I can get a feel an education in both without having to take the entire course load for 2 majors. The advantage of being part of this education program is that I have the ability to take classes in every area that I am interested in without having to waste them as electives. This allows students to broaden their abilities and knowledge about more than one area of study. A disadvantage of the interdisciplinary education is that it is harder to explain on a job interview. It almost makes it seem as if you are indecisive in life, but as long as it is explained correctly it could in turn be an advantage and present more opportunities.
I became an IDS major because I felt that learning solely about Hospitality was not good enough for me. There were so many other great classes at UCF that were not part of the Hospitality program that seemed incredibly interesting. Every elective was being filled with an art class, whether it was ceramics or a class about the 19th century artists. My minor in mass communication came about because I am interested in film but also advertising. With mass communication I was able to take classes in both of those areas. Mass communication and Art collaborate as well. Being an IDS major is something to be proud of, it opens more opportunities for a student.
Hello Jodi! It was lovely to read your post. I also like walking outside, especially at the outlets. :) I also liked reading your points about IDS majors. It does open doors and opportunites that your wouldn't get from one major. I also like to take difference classes and learn a little about everything. I completely agree with you. I hope you have a happy semester!
DeleteMy name is Emily Pate, and I love spending time with my family. I chose the IDS degree because it best fit what I was looking for in a degree program. It allows me the flexibly to choose majors and minors I am most interested in, and it gives me a broader range of knowledge. I tell people it’s the best type of degree, cafeteria style!
ReplyDeleteFor me the advantages and disadvantages are twofold. I like that vastness of the program. It allows me to be open to a large range of classes. That is also the downfall of the program. Sometimes a more focus path is necessary to get a firm hold on the depth of knowledge.
I am majoring in Behavioral & Social Science and Public Affairs. My two minors are Health Services Administration and Sociology. I’d like to use these disciplines to run large medical practices, and perhaps, eventually hospitals. I currently work for Hospital Corporation of America, so I’d like to move up the proverbial corporate ladder with my degree.
http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobDetails.aspx?IPath=QHCMGM0J&ff=21&APath=2.21.21.0.0&job_did=J3H7NQ6H4V2BMWSQ6RW