About Me!

   This week's activity in my technology class involved making an “About Me” page. I always find it interesting when I come across the little box that wants me to write information about me. I'm always boggled about what I should say. Anybody who knows me knows that in person I usually have a lot to say. But rarely do I like to really talk about me and who I am – really. For me, it's like sitting in a job interview and being asked to list all the great things about myself that I can “bring to the table”. In situations like these I always feel extremely awkward. I don't like to talk about myself because it feels like bragging. It's made worse when I have to put it in writing because there is always going to be a trace of it left behind- what if it says something about me that I don't want people to know? Is that how I want to be remembered?

   As I approached this assignment I took a look at the YouTube video "...you don't get to write your own resume...". It was a resounding point for me that it really matters what kind of information you put about yourself out in the world. How you represent yourself really matters. On the internet, no matter what I do, there will be a digital footprint left behind. So, do I want to post silly pictures of myself on Facebook or a picture of myself enjoying a drink while on vacation? Maybe... maybe not. It really is important in my profession as an educator to represent myself well. But I also take issue with the fact that I am expected to have a pure reputation and forgo any sort of interesting social life. I guess what it comes down to is in the world of Facebook, etc. it really does matter who you let into your world. In my case, it is strictly friends and family. I constantly have people tell me that they cannot locate me and that is just the way that I like it.

   I also tried using MIT's Personas project and the Online Identity Calculator. I received some interesting results. With the Personas project there were no traces of me to be found. This was interesting because I do have a Facebook account, as well as a blog for this class, and of course a few other various results I may find on myself on Google. The Online Identity Calculator actually had me search for myself on Google. The things that I found about myself were accurate, right down to the church I attend and the time I placed on a 5k run a few years back.

   Google Profile is where I chose to make my About Me page. I did go ahead and write a small paragraph about myself- what I do, my philosophy in learning, and a cute little fact about me. I even stretched myself a little and listed the things I enjoy doing most. I want my profile to be a professional one. If my students or parents were to look me up I would not want them to know too much personal information about me, but what it is that I love about teaching. I would also like to list some more links that parents or students could use if they were looking for more help in en educational capacity. I look forward to exploring this project further and seeing how I can develop it more.