My name is Manya Zubkis, but I normally go by Masha. There is a long story behind why I go by Masha, versus Manya, and if you'd really like to know, I'll make it a short story. My parents had decided between two names, Manya and Masha, and choose Masha. However, when my father went to complete my birth certificate, he forgot this, in normal fashion, and put Manya. Now I am plagued by a legal name that no one calls me, so please, call me Masha. I was originally born in Brooklyn, New York. However, my older brother had severe asthmatic problems and my parents decided he needed a new and very different environment. That's how we moved to San Diego and I have been living in this beautiful city since that day. I attended Elementary School at Sunnyside Elementary in the suburb of Bonita in south bay San Diego. I continued the rest of my public education in Bonita, attending Bonita Vista Middle and High School. I recently graduated from San Diego State University, after 5 years, as a Liberal Studies major. It's not easy changing your major after two and a half years, even if your advisor tells you it is.
My father has been a computer-software programmer for the last 30 years or so. So, as far back as I can remember, we have always had computers in our household. I can even remember back to the days of all those cool computer games that you had to load with a floppy disk! My dad is a PC person but as soon as I could, I got myself a MacBook, and I'll be honest, I will never go PC again. I find Macs to be much user friendly, as soon as you know how to do all the cool little tricks. But the best thing about them is.. NO VIRUSES! No one likes a sick computer. I depend daily on technology in order to pay my bills, access my bank account, send and receive all my e-mails, and of course, to get my daily dose of celebrity trash. When I was managing a non-competitive gymnastics center and boutique, I depended daily on our Mac. We kept ALL of our records and imaging on there. We also received our emails from clients and business partners on the computer as well. I use the Microsoft '07 version however, and don't plan on upgrading, I don't like the format of Microsoft '08.
The CSUSM-COE Mission Statement was definitely a factor in deciding which college to continue my credential at. As much as I love and adore the teachers who I had going through grade school; I believe that many things have changed in our world, and with the changing times we much change our teaching methods and the information taught. I believe that our world is much more technology based now, and this will only increase with time. The students we teach must be prepared to enter a job force with a high technological influence. In addition, I believe that to decrease the achievement gap, we must focus on education equity and social justice. The United States is a country that was formed for immigrants looking for religious freedom and opportunity. However, I sense that we overlook our past and forget that we were ALL once immigrants. Providing every child with a fair education is more than their privilege, it is their right.
