My Passion For Teaching As A Teacher

I decided to interview a friend of mine who just started her second year of teaching. She works for a Middle School in Westchester County, teaching 6th and 7th grade math. I asked her a series of questions about her whole experience on becoming a teacher. I was relieved to hear what her first few days were like being a new teacher, because that could be nerve racking for any new teacher. She explained to me that she was shocked on her first few days, and overwhelmed with the respect she immediately received from her students. They greet her in the hallway, and thank her as they leave class. I could just imagine how good that would feel to get that reaction from your students. When I asked her why she decided to teach the grade that she is in, she explained to me that she chose to do middle school because it is a crucial time for development in an adolescents life, and also a challenging time.

I know that my first year of teaching will be filled with many challenges and many Rewards. Just being new to the profession is going to be challenging in itself. I am sure I will be very anxious and nervous, but also extremely excited. I am confident that I will face the challenges with grace, and appreciate the rewards greatly.

While my dedication to teaching at some capacity has been a lifelong passion, I would like to explain why I want to join Teach for America by starting at the beginning of my own academic journey:

Like many others from my graduating class, I left college and headed for the fast track world of law and finance. After two years crunching numbers, juggling real estate projects and emerging from Black Monday in October 1987 relatively unscathed, I realized I hated my job. Landing a teaching position at Fessenden School became a watershed event in my life. Looking back over the past years, I fully realize that teaching is an essential part of me. Michael Thompson, once said, "There are some teachers who are effective and know why, others who aren 't effective and don 't know why, and a third are effective, but aren 't quite sure why." After five years at Fessenden, I felt like the latter. Therefore, I decided to attend graduate school in order to become a more effective educator. Theory, practicum, and research aside, graduate school was an epiphany for me. It confirmed in me that leading a school was more than a choice; it was a calling.

My decision to be a teacher did not come easily to me. This choice was dependent on a reflection about what I was passionate about and how I could make a difference. I have chosen to become a teacher, as I believe teachers have the ability to provide future generations the stimulation for one of the most significant roles in life; to become a lifelong learner. Many teachers that I have had during my education have had a positive impact on my decision to grow and develop the skills that are fundamental to pursue a successful teaching career. My aim is to be a part of an honorable profession with the optimism that one day I will become an efficacious teacher who can provide future teachers with inspiration, as my teachers have provided for me. Through personal educational experiences and peer-reviewed academic literature, I am able to shape my approach to my pre-service teaching, as it will influence my future practice. As a teacher, there is not just one singular approach to educating students; there is a need for flexibility, diversity, adaptation and reflection.

I am the proud mom of four AMAZING kids, a wife to my supportive and hard-working husband, and a dedicated educator with 19 years of creative, effective, and engaging teaching experiences. I LOVE teaching…from the moment you step into my warm, welcoming, themed classroom, to interacting and guiding every student toward personal success, to sharing in their triumphs and challenges, to fostering the “real-world” connections, and most importantly…fostering a love of learning! I work endless hours planning, researching, preparing, and implementing in order to be creative, effective, engaging, and fun for every student. I pride myself on being able to connect and build strong relationships with all of my students each year. I believe in the importance of knowing each student’s learning style, and truly understanding their personal strengths and weaknesses, as like every adult, each child is unique and learns differently and at their own pace! Further, I believe that ALL kids can LEARN! I teach each of my students the importance of taking ownership, involving

In truth, you cannot be reminded too many times about good teaching practices, passion for education, and the need for constant reflection and

Therefore, by being admitted into this program, I feel I will be in the right path into becoming a trained teacher with some exposure on how to manage a classroom, work with diverse learnings, learn some pedagogical skills, present and develop lesson plans, and observe teachers. As a future educator, I firmly believe that all children are capable of learning and achieving success through the guidance, dedication, and support from a teacher. My philosophy and teaching styles may change throughout my teaching career, and I want to remain receptive to suggestions and open for improvement. Teaching young minds is a task that cannot be taken lightly. It is full of challenges, frustrations, and responsibilities. However, it is a task that is also full of excitement, wonder, and

As such, the conventional mode of the twenty-first century has experienced great impacts with regard to its concepts and strategies. As such for any teacher who intends to eventually excel at this noble profession, expanding their knowledge in both the practical and theoretical frameworks of the profession is imperative. It is for this reason that I would like to pursue my Masters in teaching. The reason I chose ETSU as my university of choice is that it is one of the most exceptional institutions of higher learning in the country. Steeped in a time-honored history, the University has set itself apart with its culture of innovation, vibrant intellectual atmosphere, and an all-inclusive curriculum. I intend to enroll in a teaching program for middle grades school, and I am convinced that at ETSU I will be able to achieve my goal of becoming the best teacher I can be. I am convinced that given a chance to enroll in the Master’s program, I will do my utmost best to carry on the institution’s tradition of academic

I learned quickly that being an effective teacher is an art that takes time and devotion. Many times, teachers are not provided with the necessary materials in order to maintain the various learning styles in a classroom. It is up to the teacher to create an environment where students can succeed. This is a full time job, meaning that a teacher’s work is not done once they leave the school. A teacher must contribute a significant amount of time and effort in order to see positive results in the school and in his or her own classroom. After observing my cooperating teacher’s strategies and learning more about the profession, I knew that I was going in the right direction with my life. I took a significant amount of knowledge away from this experience and have continued to strive to be the type of educator that I was blessed to work with during this experience. .

Growing up I have been fortunate enough to have been taught by some truly inspirational teachers and I am well aware of the effect they have had on my life and the choices I have made subsequently. My own passion for working with young children extends from wanting to emulate those role models and have the same impact on other children.

I was raised up believing in the importance of service and community as I saw my family members and neighbors selflessly help and be in community with people in need. It is therefore no surprise that I discovered my passion for service and volunteerism while still young. In my hometown Nairobi, Kenya, I did community service through various ways, including my involvement in the charity walk for Street Children and Orphans in Kenya in 2003 and the 2007 Brookside Freedom from Hunger Campaign. I participated in the charity walk for these causes and helped raise money to support street children, orphans, ending hunger, and was recognized as one of the top three people to raise the most funds. In high school, I volunteered at the St. Nicholas Children's home in Kenya, where I served, played, and was in solidarity with the children. In 2013, I earned the President’s Bronze Standard award given to me by Honorable Mwai Kibaki, the third president of Kenya for being a young person equipped with positive life skills and a change maker in my community, country, and globally.

This past semesters has been an eye opening experience that has changed my views on teacher. Ever since I was little, I have always wanted to be a fourth grade teacher. However after being placed in a second grade classroom my views have changed. I liked the idea of teaching fourth grade because my fourth grade teacher was my inspiration in life. When I was in Ms. Petro’s class I enjoyed being able to watch the students progress over time. Being able to see the drastic improvements in little children is very rewarding and that is why I want to continue to teach lower grades. I have learned that being a teacher requires a special someone, a person who knows that sometimes you will have to deal with tough situations leaving you exhausted and feeling like you are not able to help more. But at the same time, being a teacher allows one to be a visionary for the world and those who surround you.

Almost all little girls start their primary schooling years wanting to play school and wanting to learn. At home they act like they are teaching their own classroom and leading their group of students in front of them (most likely a stuffed animal), but their imagination, creativity, and eagerness to learn is at the peak when they begin their first day of school. Ever since that day I still want to be an educator and to make a difference in this field for the better. I have always found that the most intriguing thing for me in life is conveying knowledge and skills onto other people and watching in their eyes when the switch finally clicks that they understand what I have been trying to teach them. Knowing that the impact you made for just that short amount of time in that child’s life may never be forgotten.

As children, we absorb information and learn from experiences that mold us into who we are. Many individuals impact a child’s life, but the most powerful and influential role lies in a devoted teacher, a teacher provides growth to students as a gardener would to a garden of flowers. Each child can bloom into a thriving flower so long as you water their garden with optimism, love, patience, and guidance. Throughout my educational experiences I was lucky enough to have educators who poured their knowledge and optimism into me, and now I would like to reciprocate that back to students who are in the position I was once in. Balancing life and school is hard enough for a student, but a powerful and caring teacher can steer you in the right direction. In this autobiography you will read about my educational background, experiences that influenced my decision to become a teacher, and what I believe the role of a teacher should be in a student’s life.