My name is Savannah Leigh Drew and this is my introduction.
Where Have I Been?
I was born and raised in California, But lived abroad in Okinawa Japan for three years before moving
back to California to conclude my education. Other than Okinawa, Tokyo, Utah, Nevada, and California,
I haven’t been much else for more than a layover. My wish and ultimate goal is to travel the world.
back to California to conclude my education. Other than Okinawa, Tokyo, Utah, Nevada, and California,
I haven’t been much else for more than a layover. My wish and ultimate goal is to travel the world.
What Have I Done?
I have been a Ballet dancer since I was five years old. I have performed with the Oakland Ballet
company, Black Diamond Ballet Theater, Delta Children’s Ballet Theater, and the American Ballet
Theater. I was a Professional on Pointe and have background in all forms of dance including Tahitian,
Contemporary, Classical Balanchine style Ballet, tap, and more. I have also learned to speak some
Japanese and French. However I am most fluent in American Sign Language and English. I was an
English teacher while overseas and before that I was a therapeutic dance teacher for children and teens
with special needs and learning disabilities.
company, Black Diamond Ballet Theater, Delta Children’s Ballet Theater, and the American Ballet
Theater. I was a Professional on Pointe and have background in all forms of dance including Tahitian,
Contemporary, Classical Balanchine style Ballet, tap, and more. I have also learned to speak some
Japanese and French. However I am most fluent in American Sign Language and English. I was an
English teacher while overseas and before that I was a therapeutic dance teacher for children and teens
with special needs and learning disabilities.
Where Will I Go?
I want to be a teacher again, but I also wish to experience more cultures and ways of life that are
different than my own. I believe that the only way to understand what is best for everyone is to know
everything you can about what other people’s values and beliefs are. I think that we live in a broken
world where the needs of others are put after the needs of ourselves. I want to teach children so that
they will have an opportunity to understand others just as they would want to be understood. I don’t
just want to teach the English language, but also teach a willingness to communicate and think
critically about what others say and do.
different than my own. I believe that the only way to understand what is best for everyone is to know
everything you can about what other people’s values and beliefs are. I think that we live in a broken
world where the needs of others are put after the needs of ourselves. I want to teach children so that
they will have an opportunity to understand others just as they would want to be understood. I don’t
just want to teach the English language, but also teach a willingness to communicate and think
critically about what others say and do.
Why Is This Important To Me?
Critical thinking is a valuable skill that college students are very aware of, but I feel that these skills
should be instilled in children much sooner. Children’s vices and ideas are often stifled and their elders
simply implement their own ideas in their children. And though nothing is wrong with sharing your
values and beliefs with your children, I do find fault in not allowing a child to voice their opinion or to
question these lessons. After all, the most important question anyone can ever ask in any situation is
“Why?”.
should be instilled in children much sooner. Children’s vices and ideas are often stifled and their elders
simply implement their own ideas in their children. And though nothing is wrong with sharing your
values and beliefs with your children, I do find fault in not allowing a child to voice their opinion or to
question these lessons. After all, the most important question anyone can ever ask in any situation is
“Why?”.
Hi Savannah! Welcome to the course! Thank you for a glimpse into your life and interests. I trained to be a ballet dancer until I was 18 (back in the 1600s, that is), but never pursued it beyond that. I respect how far you have gone in the profession!
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your desire to work with children. You seem to have a great deal of compassion for their needs and how we can help them.
I look forward to working with you this semester!
Hi Savanah! I admire your passion of wanting to teach and putting other's needs above yourselves. I struggle in this area as I usually become so focused and worried about myself that I don't even think how I could help others. I hope you have a great semester and a great career of helping others!
ReplyDeleteHello Savanah,
ReplyDeleteI loved reading about your dancing. I also started dance very young and trained in multiple genres. I wanted to pursue that part of my life but lacked the confidence that you clearly have.
One of my jobs is working with children with autism. I fully agree that children should be able to question anything and everything. With that I feel like they should also be taught how to question things, not just question them because they can. I very much enjoyed learning more about you. Thank you for letting us see a glimpse.
Hi Savanah!
ReplyDeleteI loved reading your introduction. It was so interesting to read about your passions. I also used to dance since I was young but I actually quit sometime in high school. It's so cool that you've traveled to so many different places. Especially Japan! I have always wanted to go there but alas, I cannot go till sometime in the future. Your view on children learning critical thinking skills sooner is quite eye opening. I wish you luck with your future endeavors!
Howdy, Savannah!
ReplyDeleteI have to say, reading your post was inspiring. It's awesome to read about an individual who continuously follows their passion and does things to challenge them-self. Okinawa must have been a blast! Japan is one of my dream destinations to visit. Since I was an early teen I've been obsessed with Japanese Pro Wrestling (New Japan Pro Wrestling), and will be unhappy with my life if I don't see shows in the Tokyo Dome and Korakuen Hall at least a few times before I die. I hope you're able to fulfill your goals in teaching (100% with you on emphasizing critical thinking), and I look forward to reading your posts this semester.
Hi Savannah! I really love the passion you have in your interests and I really wish that I possessed some of the drive you seem to have for your goals. Honestly, I've always felt a bit aimless but I hope that I'll be able to discover what motivates me in life and people like you inspire me greatly! By the way, while I've never been to Okinawa, I've visited the Japanese Home Islands several times and I've always been captivated by their beauty and cultural-richness, definitely one of my favorite countries to visit. Anyways, best of luck in the semester and in your goals!
ReplyDeleteHey Sav
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your introduction and I am also raised in Cali and lived in Oakland all of my life. I thank you for sharing your very interesting hobbies with us. My cousin did ballet at a young age but I'm guessing it was too much dedication for her so I respect you have been doing it for so long. Keep the good work up your goals are great and good luck this semester
Hi Savannah, welcome to the course! It is really inspiring how you want to work with children and teach them lessons about not only education but life as well. I also agree with you on what you said about how children should be able to voice out their thoughts and opinions because yes their thoughts and opinions are as important as ours!!
ReplyDeleteHi Savannah, first off what the heck! I didn't know you had this class but now I'm super excited because I know we can work together! I think it's really cool you lived in Japan for three years but of course I'm happy you are back in California! I know you will succeed in all of your goals plus more!
ReplyDeleteHi Savannah,
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, I love the layout of your blog! All the labels at the top make it very easy to navigate your site. I think it’s great that you want to work with children and specifically your reasoning behind wanting to do so. I agree with you and believe that society is moving towards more selfish beliefs . This can be helpful to a degree—of course we need to care for ourselves, but I think it is just as important to care for others in the same manner. Thanks for your intro!
Savannah, I like the way you broke your introduction down. Wow, growing up in Japan. What an experience in culture. My spiritual mom lived in Japan for a while. It’s awesome that you have such a rich background, being able to speak several languages gives you a huge advantage in the work place. I enjoyed learning about you. Lastly, I do agree that it is important to allow your kids to ask questions and have their own opinions.
ReplyDelete