Walter Group.....
Gordy and all Group MCI
Candidates,
As always Gordy has put
forth absolute accuracy.
I can only add from my
personal experience
The Masters is about
“Understanding”
Going to a clinic for
example (which by the way, I recommend highly) and attempting to take the test
immediately doesn’t work.
The information is too
new it has to be assimilated and become so ingrained that it “Is Absolutely
Part of You” And that simply takes time and exposure! I worked with 14
Masters many were CBOG’s.
When you truly
understand something you are conversant about the subject, you aren’t
stammering or searching your mind for some memorized tidbit. Imagine you are a
new MCI… teaching an MCI candidate, “Are you ready for this level of
questioning”? Are you comfortable enough with your knowledge level to take on an
advanced caster in a lesson that s/he is Paying $ For and expects results
quickly?
When you are this
familiar with the whole body of fly casting/fishing information you are prepared
and have reached the Masters Plateau.
All of the study and
work gives you “Earned Confidence” It is this confidence that
makes a Master, you know what you are talking about and it flows smoothly. It is
obvious you have spent enough time thinking about the details because you
Understand it! If someone asks you a question you either know the answer or
more importantly you can think through the issue and derive a valid
conclusion. You will be put in this situation by your students especially your
more advanced students. I really pushed myself to teach more during the last
year. There is no better preparation than doing it, period! I would add you must
be physically and mentally ready for the exam, good night’s sleep, decent food
and hydration etc. Gordy has published a list of do’s and don’ts that totally
covers the issue.
The final point is if
you are honest with yourself, “You will know when you are ready”. (I think it
was Floyd Franke who once told me, “When you are comfortable walking up to Lefty
and saying “Let me show you how I teach that”...you are ready”) (Happened to me
at the last Conclave with one of my Icons)” This Confidence was the difference
for me. Not that I hadn’t worked hard before. It was just that it had all
finally come together. I walked in ready, less nervous, pumped up but actually
enjoyed answering the questions and was ready to go deeper on every issue. (It
was actually fun, so much in fact I didn’t want it to end) (I think I was a
little over wound with this kind of thinking!) The questions were actually
tougher on the one I passed, simple but more insightful questions. But it was
easier, like a good cast, smoother with less effort!
And to prove the point,
I did not know every answer in the gray areas, and my casting was certainly not
perfect nor my best, however
I had Demonstrated my
Understanding, Ability to Teach and Examine within our Federation!
Hope this helps. It is
hard to describe this “state of preparedness”.
Jim