Catching up in Senegal with Olivia Murphy-Sweet (@OSweetMurph)

Olivia Murphy-Sweet officially joined the Peace Corps
in September of 2017.

It's time to catch up with #psuaged16 member and Peace Corps member Olivia Murphy-Sweet from all the way in Senegal!

Olivia's decision to join the Peace Corps came after a life full of travel and international experience. She had traveled internationally multiple times, including a trip to Belize in 2015 to complete her undergraduate research looking at how agricultural knowledge is passed down. Through these experiences, she was able to integrate herself into local cultures and meet new people. "I wanted to join Peace Corps to continue to have those experiences and to learn what it was like to live with people who are different than me." When she got the news that she was accepted and traveling to Senegal, she was naturally ecstatic.

Ms. Murphy-Sweet currently serves as a Sustainable Agricultural Specialist, which requires her to teach through garden groups, seed extension, and many secondary projects that don't necessarily relate to agriculture. "Having an Agriculture Education degree allows one to be very versatile in whatever job they want to do." 

Olivia working on a component of the water line
for her water grant project.

Although her decision to join the Peace Corps isn't a typical one, she says that her degree in Agriculture and Extension Education prepared her well, and was able to help her teach in such a broad setting as hers. "I went a little off the beaten path and used my degree on a more international level than staying in America." Through her education she learned how to think critically with her projects, create lesson plans for the formations she leads in the village, and helped her be able to apply what she does know about agriculture to her current position. She just finished her first year of service, and now has one more to go, being complete in December of 2018.

Olivia says her favorite part of Senegal would be her village, and all those that reside there. "I have countless friends and great work partners that help me with projects." One of her most recent projects was a water grant, where she worked with her community to provide water to an area outside of their village. She was amazed at how well everyone worked together to help each other through the duration of the project.

Olivia (3rd from left), with a group of fellow volunteers in Senegal.

We asked Ms. Murphy-Sweet if she has any advice for those pursuing a degree in Agriculture and Extension Education. Her response; "Do it! It will open up doors if you are willing to be creative and accomplish your goals whether it is in the classroom or not. Once you have the degree, the possibilities are endless." Her degree helped her to open up a very unique opportunity, allowing her to challenge herself while experience a community that would help her through every step of the way. Olivia's experience is proof of the diversity of opportunities that an Ag Ed degree can give you. We want to thank Olivia for sharing with us, and wish her the best of luck as she finishes out her service to the Peace Corps!

Hunter Kauffman, Student Blogger

Wildlife and Fisheries Science 

The Pennsylvania State University

Email: hlk5120@psu.edu

Instagram: kauffman_hunter

World Wisdom With Weaver: Teachers (Especially Ag!!) Need to Travel!

Happy Wednesday! By now, teachers across the country have returned to the classroom and are knee-deep in learning new names, faces, and learning needs. I bet a few of you even got your beginning-of-year-cold right?!

I've always said that Agriscience Teachers are like no other teacher out there. We work harder, teach harder, go the extra mile with activities, and advise a pretty awesome student organization. We also can be found helping students complete applications, prepare animals for fair, and chaperoning trips across the state and country! It's not an easy job, but it is rewarding.

However, I know that after some time, a teacher will feel burnt out. Because of the demands on our time and our innate desire to give all we can to our students, we end up over-committing, burning the candle at both ends, and running ourselves ragged. That burn out has plagued our profession for years and we constantly discuss ways to retain our young teachers and keep them passionate. Well, I've got the answer (or at least an option)!

TEACHING ABROAD!

Think about almost every Disney movie out there (come on, I know you love Disney as much as I do...):

• Belle - She wished for "adventure in the great wide somewhere"
• Pocahontas - She postulated that adventure was "just around the river bend"
• Peter Pan - He showed Wendy and her brothers Neverland which was "second star to the right and straight on 'til morning"
• Aladdin - He showed Jasmine a "Whole New World"

What do these all have in common? They didn't just stay at home and they weren't afraid to take that leap of faith! When did we stop listening to the advice Disney movies gave us?! 

Ag. Teachers, international travel is not just a way for you to recharge and shift your perspective; it's also a way to reinvigorate your teaching, re-spark your creativity, and allow you to do something for YOU again. You deserve that!

So, to help you, I've located some opportunities that might interest you. Check them out. You might just have the time of your life and find a new adventure!

#1 - Fullbright Program (@FullbrightPrgrm) is sponsored by the US Department of State and provides funding for students, teachers, scholars, artists and professionals for grad study, research and teaching (K-12). The application for 2015-2016 is LIVE NOW and is due by November 5th. A colleague of mine was accepted into this program and taught for 6 months in South Africa. He came back with the greatest of experiences.

#2 - Marine Education Fellowship brings a select group of educators into the field every year for an 8 day field-science education. This March and April (2015) they will be coordinating programs in Baja and Costa Rica. Check it out!

#3 - AgEd2Korea. In 2014 The University of Florida and Penn State University offered 8 students and 7 full-time agriscience teachers a chance to learn about and spend 4 weeks in Korea. All participants spent time learning about the country before their trip and then immersed themselves in the culture of the country. Check out their BLOG and listen to David Bittner (Agricultural Science Educator at Midd-West HS) discuss his experience on this trip:

#4 - PSU Global TeachAg! Fellowship. Not ready to set sail on the open winds? Well, how about applying for my position? I may be the first, but I hope to not be the last! Take some time off (I'll discuss this more in a future blog) and spend your time working to develop global school-based educational opportunities. I can tell you that just in the few weeks I've been in this new role I have felt so re-energized as a teacher. 

These are just four of the MANY opportunities that exist out there for teachers to travel abroad to learn, teach and grow. You deserve this opportunity to develop as a professional and individual. You've earned this. The annual Citrus Sale will survive without you for one year! 

Do you know of other opportunities that I may have missed?  Well, then please comment on this post and/or contact me @TeamWeaverFever. I look forward to hearing from you and I hope to find out that some of you took my challenge and get to experience these awesome programs.

Until next time (when I will be talking about STUDENT travel).

Agriculturally Yours,

Nicole Weaver
PSU Global Teach Ag! Fellow
@TeamWeaverFever