Blog Post #1

 Hello! My name is Caitlyn Seavers. I am a first year at FSU, majoring in Special Education Teaching. I one day hope to become a Special Needs Lawyer. The reason I chose this career path is solely due to my younger brother having an intellectual disability. I have seen my brother, as well as other individuals with intellectual disabilities, overcome many obstacles and it has only grown my passion for serving the special needs community. The time I spend when I am not serving the special needs community is dedicated to theatre and schoolwork. I have been performing in musical theatre productions since I was 3 years old. Some of my favorites roles include Tracy (Hairspray), Katherine (Newsies), and Olaf (Frozen). Theatre has always been a big passion of mine, so not doing theatre anymore has definitely been a struggle. I hope to get involved in some sort of on-campus or off-campus theatre club to stay connected to that theatrical part of myself. Another big part of me would have to be my diabetes. I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in 2013. It was definitely a shock and a life adjustment, but I believe it only made me stronger. I am not ashamed of my diabetes, and hope to be involved in advocacy programs in the future that help younger individuals who are struggling with T1D. This fall, I pledged Kappa Kappa Gamma. Joining Greek Life was one of the most exciting decisions of my life. I found a home with girls who like the same things I do and who push me to be a better version of myself. I like to think of myself as a well-rounded and outgoing individual. My favorite shows include One Tree Hill and Criminal Minds. I love going out and exploring the world around me. I live my life to the fullest and that is what I plan to do forever. 

I definitely do not think of myself as the most technologically advanced individual. Throughout my secondary schooling, I utilized platforms like canvas and google sites to get my work done. For certain classes, I worked on platforms like Flipgrid to complete certain assignments. As an officer in Theatre Club my senior year, I designed a website for our program on Weebly. I also set up the Canvas courses for our theatre classes, managed our facebook page, created online flyers for upcoming events, and kept track of thespians points for our performers using Google Sheets. I was in charge of the Remind groups for both Theatre Club and Beta Club. I would use Powerpoint to make Beta Club's monthly meeting information slides. Throughout middle school, we were required to take technology classes in order to learn the basics for typing and Microsoft Office Applications. I have been using laptops for schooling since Middle School and the platforms we were told to use. I know my way around technology for the most part, but in no way am I some technical wizard. 

As for my personal learning needs, I like to use binders, paper, and notecards. I like my notes to be aesthetically pleasing, so I have a large collection of pens and highlighters. When taking notes, I have found that writing helps retain information better than typing. I use flashcards for memorizing information, like definitions of key words. I have a planner in which I write down my weekly assignments and due dates. I like to type my assignments on Google Docs, print them out to proofread, then return to the online document to make corrections until my paper is the way I want it. I set reminders on my phone for tests and quizzes, just in case I miss it in my planner. I am very organized and writing things down is how I stay that way. As for people who affect my PLN, I would have to say my parents are a great resource. My father works with numbers all day and my mother works in a school. They have been their to help tutor me, as well as proofread any assignment. They have been a key part of my learning experience and have helped me succeed. I use my peers to ask questions, as well as my teacher if I need further clarification. I like to stick to what I have been using for years because I know I will be successful.  

"Education: Special Education and Disability Policy" by VCU Libraries is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0