Personal information

Hi hi!! My name is Abigail Ruse, but my friends and family call me Abbie. I like both, so I will respond to whatever is easy for you to remember. I prefer the pronouns she, her, and hers. I come from the town of Rossford, Ohio which is located in the Toledo Metropolitan area. Very few people have heard of it, so when I introduce myself, I just say I am from Toledo.  I’m not sure whether I will return to Toledo, stay here in Cleveland, or spontaneously move somewhere else after I graduate. I love being close to my family, so part of it depends on where they end up. My family loves the Cleveland Indians and my older sister graduated from John Carroll with both her undergrad and master’s degree and is now working and living in the Cleveland area. My younger sister also decided to attend John Carroll next year, so we will see where my family and I end up now that my sisters and I will all be living in the same place again. But no matter where it is, I know that my family and I will continue to love and grow together.

One of my favorite things to do with them is to travel. I am extremely grateful to be given the opportunity and the resources to travel around the world to open my eyes to new people, places, experiences, and opportunities. I have been blessed with the chance to travel to over twenty-five states and nineteen countries. One of my most favorite trips was an eleven-day Disney Cruise throughout Europe. This once and lifetime experience became my life’s dream. I left wanting and imagining working on a Disney Cruise. Ever since this trip, I have dreamt of working on a Disney Cruise, so I could continue traveling but more importantly, spreading and sharing love and magic to young children and their families around the world. I have also dreamt of living in Scottsdale Arizona, where my family often goes over spring break to see the Cleveland Indians during their spring training. There, I love the warm weather and the sunshine, I love being able to walk and swim any time of the year, I love being able to drink smoothies, eat Açai bowls, and consume as much ice cream as I want, I still get to see the Indians play and I would still be able to pursue my teaching career. Both of these dreams, however, require me to move away from family, which is why these are surprisingly my dreams since I am so close to them. No matter where I end up though, I know that I want to be working for and with kids and that my family will continue to be just as important to me.

But until I graduate, I will continue focusing on my family, friends, faith, service, academics, and other extracurricular activities. In addition to academics, I am heavily involved both on and off-campus. I am a member of a Carroll Faith Community, CRU, RallyCap Sports, Student Alumni Association, and John Carroll’s Dance Marathon’s Executive Committees. I am also a BlueStreak Ambassador, Love Your Melon Brand Ambassador, and the Secretary of Seeds of Hope which has partnered with Big Brothers Big Sisters, the YMCA, and other local Cleveland schools. Also, I participate in weekly service, where I tutor young students, and I am a private tutor here on campus. Outside of my activities on campus, I serve on my Cleveland church’s City Kids program, I participate in my home church’s college youth group, and I volunteer at Cuyahoga National Park’s Polar Express. Although all of these activities quickly fill up my time, I view them as opportunities that help prepare me for my future and allow me tk spend time doing the things I love the most.

Learning Style and more:

I love to communicate and participate in the classroom; however, frequently, I feel intimated to do so. For me to feel comfortable taking intellectual and creative risks, I need to feel like I am respected and listened to even if my thoughts, opinions, or beliefs differ from the rest of the class or the teacher. I need to feel reassured and validated so that I can feel confident in myself, in my abilities, and my knowledge. My knowledge improves the more I experience, as I am a tactile learner. I am a very detailed orientated individual and have perfectionist tendencies which is one reason why I always need to be reassured that what I am doing and learning is correct.

What have you been reading?

https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2019/03/13/why-teacher-student-relationships-matter.html

Above is the link to an article titled, “Why Teacher-Student Relationships Matter.” This essay from Education Week discusses the importance of teachers building relationships with their students. It provides different approaches teachers can use to build or improve healthy relationships with their class. All in all, it explains how a positive relationship between a student and teacher can kindle a lifetime love of learning. For me, personally, this is what matters most to me about education. One of the things I most excited about teaching is being able to build connections with students so that they feel loved, supported, and inspired. I recognize and appreciate the need for students to feel encouraged and engaged so that they can feel excited to be educated.

About Dr. Shutkin:

What type of technology do you think is the most beneficial in the classroom?

At what ages do you think it is important and appropriate to introduce and incorporate technology into your curriculum and lesson plans?