HAYLEE MATECKO

Solve Problems: Staying cool under pressure and analyzing a situation for its root cause, then

applying the most effective solution that fits the needs which created the problem.

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Criteria

• Calm personality

• Analytical mindset

• Ability to visualize success

• Effective communication

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Evidence: Junior Achievement

As a Junior Achievement teacher, my partner Chris and I had to constantly think on our feet. Working with first graders for three years was one of my greatest joys in college, because the candy colored decorations lining the walls always felt like such a joyful contrast to the "grown-up" world of college. But working with first graders also came with its own set of challenges that we had to work with. The Junior Achievement booklet detailed the way we were supposed to teach the weekly lesson, but Chris and I rarely stuck to the book. We utilized the materials to create our own games, understanding the personalities of the kids in each classroom that we worked in.

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Chris and I saw the needs and learning styles of the kids in the class and created our own games from our creativity. We also were able to understand mid-lesson if a game wasn't working, or if there was a better way to change it up. We wanted to engage the kids every week, and while this isn't the world's biggest crisis, we wanted to ensure they learned a lot and had fun doing it. I also learned so much about how I react to problems, and how I am able to quickly assess the situation in order to apply the most effective solution.