Pete started our ICT lecture asking us to write down how we
think our course mates perceive us. We are all great friends and enjoy a lot of
‘banter’ and so I thought I knew what they would write about me, so my page
looked like this:
I
know that at 24, I am not old! However, as the oldest in the class they like to
bring my age up as often as possible, so I thought this would get mentioned! I
am a friendly person, and like to think that they see me as this, and I am pretty
sure they see me as a hard worker, as I try to put my all in to each lesson,
and they can see my blog and extra curricular activities.
We
then had to go around the room and write down something on each other’s page,
about how we perceive them. This was really interesting and I was expecting my
page to look the same as I had written – “old, friendly and works hard”. I went
around the room and it was interesting to see how people perceived each other.
Mine
ended up being:
As
a future teacher, who is concerned about the way she comes across in a
professional manner, I was pleased with the comments, although I couldn’t help
think that actually, it made me come across as quite boring!
However,
I agree with every comment! I am super organised, but like to think I am fun. I
believe I am professional as I have taken on Pete’s comments over the past two
years to change myself from having a ‘student presence’ online, to a ‘professional
presence’. I work hard – I have a part-time job at the University and I take on
as many extra-curricular activities as I can, from being elected as Secretary
for the Plymouth Education Society, to taking part in the 1oo Word Challenge. I’m
glad that my hard work does show to others!
I
am a student, in my twenties and I do like a drink – I won’t deny that! I am
determined, and I think this can be seen with how hard I work. I am really
pleased that people think I am friendly and good to talk to, as this is how I
try to be, but I am not surprised that I was told I am mature – probably too
mature for my own good at times!
I
liked the full of life comment as I try to be full of life and take every
opportunity that comes my way, and its nice that someone thinks I am “really
cool” but I’m sure this one isn’t true!
The
point of these activities was for us to see how we perceive ourselves, and how
people perceive us and how these are similar and how they differ. We then had
to write a few words to describe how we want to be as a teacher:
As
‘Miss Parkin’ I want the children to see me as supportive and friendly; someone
they can learn from, but who also makes learning fun and exciting, by creating
memorable and new, creative lessons.
We
then had to write down how we would like to be seen in the staff room, and
which areas of ourselves we might need or want to ‘hide’ from our colleagues.
Having
worked full time since I was 17 until I started University, I know how
important it is for your work colleagues to perceive you in a certain way, and
that this isn’t necessarily the way that you are in your personal life.
However, I have also made some of my best friends through work and this wouldn’t
have happened had I not been myself.
Personally
, I am a fairly sensible person, and I don’t think there is anything I would
need to ‘hide’ from my colleagues in a professional environment. Saying this, I
did put down that I would ‘hide’ liking a drink and how I can be opinionated.
Although, I don’t see either of these things as bad qualities – I like to go
out occasionally on weekends, and that is actually all I do at University – I’m
not one for drinking three or four times a week, and so, I don’t think this is
something that I would ‘hide’.
I
do have opinions and I do like to share them, but again, I am a mature and
sensible person and I know when it is a good time to share these opinions and
when not to!
We
then had to Google ourselves… we have had to do this before and Pete managed to
find out the address of a girl in the class, and then found out the colour of
her curtains by going on Google Maps, and so I was slightly worried about doing
this! However, I was really pleased that all I found was:
Since
beginning University, Pete has mentioned a few times about our internet
presence and our digital footprint, and I have been working to make my personal
accounts as private as possible, and create a professional internet presence
for myself.
I
was happy to find that my Twitter and blog were the main things I found about
myself, and I didn’t find anything personal from a basic search of myself.
Again, being quite a sensible person, I would not put any
pictures or comments of my personal Facebook page that I wouldn’t want to be
found by a prospective employer. However, we see more and more often these days,
the mistakes that people make in putting photos and comments on what they think
are their private accounts, which eventually lead them to trouble.
When I started University, I had set my Facebook as private,
but I had a personal Twitter page and I probably had photos that I wouldn’t want
my boss to see. In these two years, I have dramatically changed and I now have
deleted my personal Twitter, and I have my Facebook as private as can be. I
have deleted any photos that I am not happy to have on my profile, and now the
results when searching for my name are my professional Twitter and my blog,
which I think is a great result to have!
Today really did make me think about my internet presence
and made me consider my Facebook account more in depth – I have been
considering deleting it for a while, with the only things keeping me there
being the photos and the ability to create groups to help with my University
work. I spoke to Pete about this and he suggested that I could have two
accounts which is something I might look in to – a personal one, for photo
sharing and staying in touch with family and friends that I don’t get to see
very often, and a professional one for talking to colleagues and for helping
with university work. I’m interested to know what others do.
I’m happy to say that my online presence is now mostly
@amyparkinbed and I’m going to work my hardest to stay that way!
Following today’s seminar, I would be interested to know how
people reading this, and who follow me on Twitter, perceive me, so please
comment!
