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Interesting Statistics
about Melanie:
Places I have travelled to:
France: 1990
Hawaii and the Marshall Islands: 1993-1994
Hong Kong and Fiji: 1995
Denmark: 1997
Israel and Switzerland: 2000
China: 2006
Interesting work:
Youth Development
Project in the Marshall Islands for 10 months: Created
a performing arts youth dance and drama workshop which also included
moral and social development. This program helped youth develop self-esteem.
This program helped youth break harmful habits such as drug and alcohol
abuse, smoking, and gang activities through positive peer-pressure, lots
of love, and respect. And helped many youth go back to school or find
a job. The performances these youth put on throughout the country consisted
of dances and drama presentations on the topics of: education, substance
abuse, gang violence, and the equality of men and women. The work we
did led to the elimination of gang violence in the Marshall Islands.
This was an extremely challenging job (I don't speak Marshallese, I'm
not a professional choreographer or social worker, and those kids really
put me to the test) but it was also the most rewarding experience of
my life and made me decide to change my career goals from interior design
to education. The president, several mayors, and a local police force
thanked me for the work I did in transforming the youth of their country.
Youth Development Project in Fiji for one year:
While attending university in Fiji, I spent my spare time visiting youth
in remote communities around the country and giving presentations in
high schools. Mostly, I shared with them my perspective of youth culture
in North America and discussed with them issues of substance abuse, chastity,
education, and the conflict between traditional and modern culture in
their lives.
Arts Coordinator for the Baha'i Youth Forum 1996-1997:
Coordinator of the performing arts program for an annual Baha'i youth
conference for approximately 600 youth in Ontario, Canada. This involved
booking performers, creating a program, and coordinating the daily events
of the conference.
Tutoring an autistic child 1997:
This was another extremely rewarding experience - to see a child develop
from not speaking a single word to speaking in sentences like a normal
child. I learned a lot about how to teach children language, social skills,
and physical development. It enabled me to exercise one of my strongest
beliefs - which is:
Abundant love and genuine respect are the most important ingredients
for anyone's development at any age.
Favourite
Movies: (In
no particular order)
Anne of Green Gables
Sense & Sensibility
Emma
A Room with a View
Lady Jane
Enemy of the State
Princess Bride
Kiki's Delivery Service
My Neighbour Totoro
You've Got Mail
Wallace & Gromit
The Neverending Story
Mission Impossible (1 & 2)
Rush Hour (1 & 2)
When Harry Met Sally
Romeo & Juliet
Dead Poets Society
Roxanne
Keeping the Faith
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
So I Married an Axe Murderer
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
The Fifth Element
The Lord of the Rings
The Star Wars Movies
Kayaanisqatsi
Rosencrantz and Gildenstern are Dead
The Matrix Trilogy
Priscilla Queen of the Desert
Favourite Books:
Harry Potter Series
Anything by L.M. Montgomery
The Eye of the Dragon by Stephen King
The Narnia Series
The Deltora Quest Series by Emily Rodda
Hobbies:
Painting
Drawing
Pottery
Cross-Stitching
Gardening
Knitting
Scrapbooking
Interesting Skills:
Synchronized Swimming
Piano
Cello
Making Children's Books
Painting
Speaking French
Drawing
Pottery
Ballet
Cross-Stitching
Gardening
Knitting
Gymnastics
Weaving
Step Dancing
Hip Hop
Rapping
Web Design
Education:
High School: York Mills Collegiate 1988-1992.
University: Ryerson Polythecnic University: Bach. of Applied Arts in
Interior Design 1992-1993.
University of the South Pacific: Bach. of Education 1995.
York University: Bach. of Arts in Psychology 1996-1997,1999-2000.
Athabasca University: Bach. of Arts in Psychology 1997-1998
Completed a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at York University in
April 2000 on the Dean's list.
North American Progressive Montessori Teacher Training Center: Montessori
Teaching Diploma for Preschool/Kindergarten 2003.
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