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I hope you remember me. I participated in the Overseas Project in the spring of 2001. I just had an impulse to contact you and see how the program was doing. It has made, and still is making, quite an impact on my personal and professional life. I am now entering my 4th year of teaching .... It's funny, I had originally graduated with intentions on teaching social studies, but I was given a great opportunity to start a new program first in my school (a computer applications class) and then in our district (dealing with computer certifications). I don't think I would have jumped at the chance if I hadn't been involved in the Overseas Project. I owe a lot to the program .... I took a lot of chances while I taught and traveled in Ireland. Some paid off and some didn't, but the fun and growth in it all was that I took the chances. I have brought that to my teaching, too. In fact, I tell my students almost daily that they need to start taking chances. And most of them do! It's really wonderful how every day, and I mean every day, I either do something or say something or see something or even sometimes smell something that reminds me of Ireland or the hard work that went into getting to Ireland. All ofthat motivates me, and of course, helps me motivate my students to not just dream big, but be big!
-Greg T., Ireland, Spring 2001
Tomorrow is my last day of teaching through the Overseas Project. Thank you so much for your efforts in preparing, supporting, and assessing me through the process, I hope you remember that your work is so worthwhile; you make it possible for hundreds of students to have once-in-a-lifetime experiences that they will never forget. I have always maintained that international friendships build peace one person at a time, but the Overseas Project builds peace hundreds of people at a time! All over the world, people have not only made a connection to IU and to the student teacher, but have hopefully had a positive experience with an American.
-Rachel M., England, Spring 2004
If ever there was a reason for engaging in the...