​​​Micah Hein​

“What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals” 

– Henry David Thoreau

 

            When I sent in my professional goal statement with my application for the fall semester of 2013, three major goals were addressed:

 

• To gain more knowledge in the field of coaching.

  • Before my studies at Michigan State, I worked for a swim team for about four years and really enjoyed my experiences as a coach and mentor to these swimmers.  I sought to become a more qualified, knowledgeable coach.  I had not studied any type of sports law or sports psychology class before, and hoped to acquire a better understanding of these important areas of coaching.

  • This goal is still similar, as I have only begun my studies and experiences with these elements of effective coaching.  With more studies and experiences, I am now aware of the requirements and responsibilities of being a top-level coach at a high school, collegiate, or professional level. Being a good coach is much more than being successful and well-liked, it is about developing athletes that are well-rounded and multifaceted learners.

• To gain more knowledge in the field of postsecondary leadership.

  • In my application for MSU, I wrote that I hoped a concentration in postsecondary leadership would “increase my effectiveness in any educational position, whether that be a college professor, department chairman, or theater manager” (2013). 

  • I still stand behind this goal, as I do hope to one day work in one of those higher-level positions. More importantly, I believe that my collection of broad and worldly experiences will increase my work quality, diligence, and ability to effectively manage these future departments or classrooms.

• To work in tandem in a teaching position to apply the concepts learned to everyday life.

  • This goal was more of a happenstance, as I was beginning my employment at Korea at the same time. I wrote frequently about Gyeonggi English Village as I learned more about it.  I realized that though I will not be in formal education in the future, there is always much to be learned from each new experience through proper communication, reflection, and evaluation.

  • Working in Korea was my first professional teaching experience, as I had been working in professional theaters prior. I wrote initially I appreciated the “wonder of theatre” in my life, but now I know I must adjust this goal.  There is wonder in everything, even something as simple as a school classroom.  And even if we don’t see the wonder in front of us, we can always make our own.

 

My ultimate goal for my MAED was to study and learn how to become a more effective, creative teacher.  Moving forward, I want to intensify this service to others. I had introduced this idea in my initial goal statement when I “realized the importance that educators have on the lives of their students.” If I continue to strive to be a better teacher, learner, and person through each new opportunity (as Thoreau encourages), then I am already moving closer to new goals.