Presenting Journee Richardson: A Quick Insight 

Hello there!!!

For those of you who don't know me, my name is Journee Richardson and I am a student at Cal State San Marcos. I was born and raised in the small country town of Ramona in Southern California. After completing preschool at the local Headstart program, I attended k-4 at Ramona Elementary School. I then moved to Barnett Elementary, which is also in Ramona, and finished 5th and 6th grade there. Afterward, I moved to Olive Pierce Middle School along with most kids my age, and then on to good ol’ Ramona High School. I was very involved in my school and hopefully intend to return and once again be involved but this time as a teacher. I was a cheerleader all four years at Ramona High and Varsity Captain for 2. I was in track and participated in Pole Vaulting and 100 and 400 meter hurdles. I was also a peer tutor and helped out in the special needs learning class teaching them sports and dance. I was a gymnastics coach for several years and also coached Ramona High’s cheer teams but had to give up my position as coach to further my education. After high school I attended Palomar Community College and received my AA in Liberal Arts and Science and another AA in Arts and Humanities. I transfered to Cal State San Marcos in Fall of 09 and I am a Literature and Writing major with an emphasis in Literature. After receiving my Bachelors degree, I plan on enrolling in the Credential Program and eventually become a High School English teacher!! I am also studying Arabic and plan to spend a significant amount of time in Egypt, exploring, learning, and experiencing the culture. I enjoy anything and everything outdoors whether it be snowboarding, wakeboarding, riding at the desert, hiking, camping or just enjoying nature. Though I am the outdoorsy type, I also have no problem sitting for hours indoors reading a book, cooking or playing video games. 

As far as technology goes, I am a MAC. I can function as a PC user but after purchasing my Macbook about a year and a half ago, I feel I will never go back. I use my computer all day, everyday. I do admit to being quite addicted to it. I currently only use pages, keynote, and numbers, but I am efficient enough to convert the files to word, excel, and powerpoint documents. I purchased an external hard drive and am waiting for my “hacker” friend to upload numerous programs, movies, and useful tools on to it for my pleasure and use. I then will have a version of Microsoft office.  I depend on technology probably a little too much whether it is my car telling me the temperature, my ipod playing all my favorite jams, my computer keeping me up to date with world happenings,my classmates and friends, or my cell phone keeping me in contact with everyone. But we live in a modern world and technology is a essential part of everyday life.

Though the mission statement was not a factor in my decision to apply at CSUSM, I do believe it has validity in that it is student centered. I feel that educators who center their lessons and goals around themselves, leave no room for personal needs and wants a student may have. The student, whether at the elementary level, high school, or collegiate level, should be the focus. They are there to learn and if the teacher is centered around themselves, this is impossible.