I'm kind of new to the blogging scene, and I don't think status updates on Facebook count! I just thought I'd post something to see how it all works and help get the ball rolling.
I think this is a fantastic medium with which we can keep in contact, not only during the intensive (though we'll be living with each other and no doubt doing cool stuff like going to the beach after class), but during the next 2 years. After talking with Arthur over the phone and at breakfast (his enthusiasm is contagious!) my awe of the TFA team has just gone even higher. They are incredibly professional and enthusiastic, and there'll definitely be a lot to share on blogs like this during our associate experience.
I think as the word gets out more (so many people now are nodding their heads when, after asking what I'm doing next year, I ask them if they've heard of TFA) I think many more opinions are also formulated. I had a bit of a heated 'discussion' over dinner at Newman College last week, when a postgrad student was having a dig at the associates and how incompetent we'll be. I unfortunately did take this as a personal attack and was quite offended by some of her comments. Are you starting to feel this way too? When criticism pops up in the media, people don't realise that it's actually us, as well as the initiative, that they're attacking. Personally I don't think we'll do too bad a job!
Hope to read some of your blog entries soon, despite being a busy time at uni!
Cheers, James
I wouldn't worry about taking it too personally: apart from anything else there's almost nobody who knows all of the associates. And the truth of the matter is that this is a risky program to a certain degree: it's an experiment and anytime you are trying something different it is going to have people who feel uneasy about that. The bigger point is that we've just got to get out there, create positive educational experiences for the students we come into contact with, and let the results speak for themselves.
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