ABE Running head: AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL ESSAY

Autobiographi a! E""a# Shauna Har$e# %ohn Hughe" E&UC '(1 )oundation" o* Edu ation On!ine+ )a!! '((,

ABE Autobiographi a! Ea"# At the end o* ea h da# *or the pa"t 1( #ear"+ I "top to re*!e t on the thing" I ha$e a o-p!i"hed. I *ind -#"e!* di""ati"*ied be au"e *e/ o* -# dai!# ta"0" -a0e a di**eren e in the

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!i$e" o* other". 1h# i" -a0ing a di**eren e "o i-portant to -e2 A!! I 0no/ i" that thi" *ee!ing ha" a!/a#" been there. I ha$e a!/a#" !o$ed to -a0e peop!e happ# and to -a0e !i*e ea"ier *or the-+ *ro- getting up e3tra ear!# a" a hi!d to get e$er#one4" hore" done be*ore the# /o0e up+ to p!a#ing /ith a hi!d on the p!a#ground /ho /a" !e*t out. I an -a0e a di**eren e+ and I /i!!5 There i" an in rea"ing need *or tea her" /ho are. I /i!! u"e -# "en"iti$it# *or other4" e-otion"+ -# great !i"tening ear+ and -# e3perien e" in *oreign !and"+ being a -other o* *i$e+ o--unit# /or0+ and -# intere"t in !i*e!ong !earning to -a0e thi" happen. Educational Background 6# edu ation ba 0ground "tart" /ith -# hi!dhood edu ation at &e !o+ Idaho+ E!e-entar#. It /a" a di**i u!t "tart and I "trugg!ed *or the *ir"t 7 #ear". I /a" the #ounge"t in -# !a"" and /ith -# energ# I ou!d not *o u" /e!!. 6# *ather /a" getting hi" ba he!or4" at the ti-e and I re-e-ber -an# a ti-e"+ a" a "-a!! hi!d /ith -# grand-other+ /a!0ing around the CSI a-pu" /aiting *or hi- to *ini"h a !a"". Then I attended 8th and 9th grade at the &e !o High S hoo! "in e 8th through 1'th grade /ere together. S hoo!ing be a-e ea"ier *or -e and ha$ing -# *ather getting hi" -a"ter4" in edu ation at the "a-e ti-e pro$ided a great ro!e -ode! *or -e. Hi" hard /or0 and deter-ination he!ped -e to /or0 hard+ too. A*ter thi" I attended ,th grade at Bur!e# %unior High S hoo! in Bur!e#+ Idaho.

ABE La"t+ I attended Bur!e# Senior High S hoo! /here I graduated in 6a# o* 1,,:. &uring -# high " hoo! #ear" -# *ather /or0ed a" a o!!ege pro*e""or *or the Co!!ege o* Southern Idaho and *ought hard to bring the outrea h enter to Bur!e#. I attended the Co!!ege o* Southern Idaho

*u!! ti-e e-pha"i;ing in )ren h and got -# A""o iate" o* Art" in 6a# o* 1,,9. At thi" ti-e I -et a tea her+ /ho- I ad-ire tre-endou"!#< her in*!uen e in -# !i*e ha" "haped -e into a -ore *o u"ed per"on. I a- no/ going ba 0 to " hoo! to -a=or in e!e-entar# edu ation. I /i!! be tran"*erring to the Idaho State Uni$er"it# in the *a!! o* '(1(. Throughout -# edu ationa! e3perien e" thi" *ar+ I ha$e had tea her" that ha$e in*!uen ed -# de i"ion to no/ be o-e a tea her. So-e ha$e in*!uen ed -e in the >/hat not to do ategor#? /hi!e the other" ha$e opened the door to -# "u e"". Li0e -# *ather+ I a- rai"ing a *a-i!#+ /or0ing *u!!@ti-e and going to " hoo!. He bettered the !i$e" o* -an# peop!e /ho /ou!dn4t ha$e had the han e other/i"e+ =u"t !i0e I /ant to be doing *or the peop!e o* to-orro/+ =u"t !i0e Pri i!!a Bingha- a *riend and tea her at CSI+ /ho taught -e the trea"ure" o* a "o*t "po0en $oi e+ a ontro!!ed te-per+ and patien e at a!! o"t"+ un!i0e the tea her" /ho pu!!ed -# hair+ 0i 0ed -# !eg" ba 0 under -# de"0 and /ho /ou!dn4t !i"ten /hen !i"tening /a" $er# i-portant. )ro- the"e I ha$e !earned that I an be a better tea her. Work History 1hi!e in high " hoo! I /a"n4t a!!o/ed to ha$e a >t#pi a!? =ob !i0e the other 0id". 6# *ather thought it /a" $er# i-portant *or edu ation to o-e *ir"t. I did+ ho/e$er+ !i$e on a *ar-+ and the ani-a!" needed *ed at ::7( in the -orning. So I had to get up+ put on -# hore !othe"+ and ha$e e$er#thing done+ get /a"hed up+ eat brea0*a"t+ and get read# *or " hoo! be*ore the bu" got there. Rain+ "no/ or "hine+ /or0 had to done.

ABE 6# *ir"t #ear in o!!ege I arried the -ai! *ro- the Bur!e# outrea h enter to the CSI a-pu". 6# "e ond #ear in o!!ege I !eaned the roo-" in the E$ergreen Bui!ding and I /or0ed

the A:7( a- "hi*t at 6a$eri0 in T/in )a!!" in the ba0er#. I /a" a!/a#" ten to *i*teen -inute" ear!# no -atter /hat. I ha$e re ent!# /or0ed ta0ing are o* the e!der!# in their ho-e and -# handi apped brother@in@!a/. I ha$e to ta0e 9 hour" o* !a""e" a #ear and "ta# CPR and *ir"t aid erti*ied to /at h hi-. The"e =ob e3perien e" ha$e ontributed to -# de$e!op-ent a" a pro*e""iona! edu ator. )ro- !i$ing on a *ar-+ I !earned the -eaning o* hard /or0 and dedi ation and re"pon"ibi!it#. It a!"o taught -e the i-portan e o* " hedu!ing to get a great a-ount o* thing" done ea h da# b# 8:7( a-. Bringing the -ai! *ro- Bur!e# to T/in+ I /a" ounted on b# -an#. Thi" ta0e" dedi ation and re"pon"ibi!it#. C!eaning at the o!!ege taught -e that order in the !a""roo!ea$e" no roo- *or hao"5 1or0ing at 6a$eri 0 taught -e ho/ to be patient /ith other" and ho/ other peop!e /ere a/are o* /hat I did. Ta0ing are o* other" in their ho-e" gi$e" -e an in"ight on ho/ di$er"e the /or!d i"< again I gained a !ot o* patien e *ro- /or0ing /ith the-. A!! o* the"e =ob e3perien e" ha$e ontributed to -# pro*e""iona! de$e!op-ent b# tea hing -e patien e+ hard /or0+ dedi ation+ re"pon"ibi!it#+ order!ine""+ a/arene""+ and di$er"ene"". Service and/or Extracurricular Activities I /a" a $er# bu"# indi$idua! a!! through -# " hoo! #ear". I /a" in$o!$ed in -an# "er$i e" and e3tra urri u!ar a ti$itie". &uring Bth and :th grade I /a" in$o!$ed in Od#""e# o* the 6ind+ /hi h /a" a progra- /here a group o* 0id" -ade pro=e t" and too0 the- to 6o" o/+ Idaho+ and di"p!a#ed the- /ith other group" around the "tate+ "u h a" bui!ding a -otori;ed ar and a bridge -ade o* ba!"a /ood that had to ho!d /eight. I he!d o**i e" in high " hoo! in BSOPS+

ABE

/hi h i" a Spe ia! O!#-pi " progra- and he!ped out at ea h o* the /inter O!#-pi " *ro- 1(th to 1'th grade. I "er$ed in the Or he"tra !ub and "o!d on e""ion" at -an# ga-e". I he!d o**i e" in )uture Ho-e-a0er" o* A-eri a and /e /ent around to " hoo!" and he!ped the E!0" C!ub do e#e " reening". In agri u!ture e ono-i "+ I he!ped de$e!op a on"u-er in*or-ation $ideo *or 6on"anto on their potato a!tered to re"i"t the Co!orado potato beet!e and "o!d the"e potatoe" around the o--unit# and at S-ith4" )ood and &rug in Bur!e#. I "et up a booth there and an"/ered Cue"tion" about thi" produ t. A" a group /e de"igned a potato bag and had it -anu*a tured to "e!! our potatoe" in. I p!a#ed tenni"+ $o!!e#ba!! and "o*tba!! a!"o. In o!!ege I /a" in )ren h C!ub and he!d o**i e o* Trea"urer. At the end o* the #ear /e /ent to )ran e *or ' /ee0". I /a" a!"o in Student" in )ree Enterpri"e or SI)E in -# *re"h-an and "opho-ore #ear" and he!d o**i e" both #ear". 1e /ent to L.A. and repre"ented I"rae! in a -o 0 -ode! o* the UD. Be au"e o* -# !o$e *or tra$e!ing+ I $i"ited I e!and and ba 0pa 0ed through Dor/a#+ &en-ar0+ S/eden and Ger-an#. I "er$ed a -i""ion *or the Chur h o* %e"u" Chri"t o* Latter &a# Saint" *or one #ear in Guate-a!a. I !earned Spani"h /hi!e I /a" there and had no one to "pea0 Eng!i"h /ith a*ter -# *ir"t : /ee0" there. It /a" a hu-anitarian ba"ed -i""ion and I taught the peop!e ho/ to pre"er$e and an *ood. I taught Eng!i"h in the " hoo!" and !earned -u h about their u!ture. A*ter -# -i""ion+ I $o!unteered to interpret *or non@Eng!i"h "pea0ing Hi"pani " !oo0ing to get a =ob at Si-p!ot. The# /ere "o e3 ited /hen the# got hired. I a!"o brought in a ho-e!e"" /o-an o** the "treet" to !i$e /ith -# *a-i!#. It i" "ti!! a "ub=e t that get" ta!0ed about a !ot. In -# "pare ti-e+ I tea h e!!o and $io!in !e""on" to -# hi!dren and to : other"+ ranging *ro- 8( to '. Do/ I a- a -other o* B and the "o!e operator o* the Ca"t!e*ord Po"t O**i e. I be!ie$e e$er#one an !earn "o-ething ne/. I a- erti*ied in di"tributing -edi ation and

ABE ha$e been erti*ied in CPR and )ir"t Aid *or 8 #ear". I a!"o tea h 11@ and 1'@#ear@o!d" Sunda# " hoo! at hur h no/ /hi h i" a tota! =o#+ I and $o!unteer in -# hi!dren4" " hoo! !a""e"+ bringing in ite-" *or the "i!ent au tion and he!ping out /ith their ho!ida# partie". The"e a ti$itie" ha$e ontributed to -# de$e!op-ent a" a pro*e""iona! edu ator. I ha$e bene*ited a" a tea her *ro- the Od#""e# o* the 6ind progra- and *ro- he!ping /ith Spe ia!

O!#-pi "< the# ha$e taught -e ho/ to ooperate /ith other" /ho ha$e the "a-e goa!" and tho"e /ho ha$e de$e!op-enta! ha!!enge". Ho!ding o**i e" in the Bur!e# Spe ia! O!#-pi " Progra-+ Or he"tra C!ub+ )HA+ )ren h C!ub+ and SI)E ha$e taught -e to a re"pon"ib!e edu ator. I ha$e bene*ited b# !earning the i-portan e o* "er$ing other"+ on -# -i""ion+ $o!unteering to interpret+ "haring -# hou"e /ith a ho-e!e"" /o-an+ and rai"ing B hi!dren and the great *ee!ing it bring". I ha$e !earned ho/ hard it an be to be in "port" and get a""ign-ent" done and ho/ i-portant it i" to get the /or0 done "o one an parti ipate and an e-pathi;e /ith "tudent" in ath!eti ". I4$e !earned the dedi ation and "e!*@deter-ination it ta0e" to a hie$e a goa!. I ha$e !earned about di**erent u!ture" through $i"iting other ountrie" and *ro- being in the -o 0 -ode! UD and I an e-pathi;e /ith "tudent4" di$er"itie" /hi h /i!! bene*it -e in the !a""roo-. I ha$e *ound the i-portan e and =o# o* !i*e!ong !earning e$en /hen a per"on i" "e$ent#. Reasons for Choosing Education as a Career I *ir"t on"idered edu ation a" a areer a*ter about the "e ond -onth o* ta0ing -# *ir"t hi!d to 0indergarten. I thought at thi" ti-e: >1o/+ tea her" ha$e our hi!dren *or the -o"t i-pre""ionab!e ti-e o* their !i$e". The# a tua!!# get the- the be"t part o* e$er# da# o-pared to /hat /e get the- *or. The# ha$e to be aring and /i!!ing to !i"ten be au"e the# are rea!!# !i0e a "e ond "et o* parent". A non@ aring tea her ou!d ha$e a huge i-pa t in -# hi!dren4" !i$e"5?

ABE At thi" ti-e I thought o* other"4 hi!dren too and ho/ the# /ere in the "a-e boat. I /anted to be a great i-pa t in their !i$e". Ea h da# I too0 -# "on to 0indergarten the other 0id" gre/ on -e

and I 0ne/ that4" /hat I /anted to do. Other areer" I ha$e on"idered /ere "o-ething in )ren h and then "o-ething to do /ith p"# ho!og# but I didn4t 0no/ e3a t!# /hat. I anti ipate great re/ard" to o-e *ro- tea hing5 I !oo0 *or/ard to the "-i!e on a hi!d4" *a e /hen "he /a!0" in the !a""roo- e3 ited to te!! -e /hat "he did o$er the /ee0end+ the !oo0 in a hi!d4" e#e a*ter e3p!aining "o-ething to her a do;en ti-e" and ha$ing her *ina!!# under"tand+ and the "ati"*a tion o* gi$ing to other" and on"tant!# !earning "o-ething o* great /orth. The -ind o* a hi!d i" a pre iou" thing and I an4t /ait to "hare the idea". Professional Goals 6# "hort@ter- goa! i" to get -# tea hing erti*i ate in e!e-entar# edu ation at Idaho State Uni$er"it#. To do thi" I /i!! get through -# re-aining : redit" at CSI. Then I /i!! tran"*er to ISU and *ini"h up to obtain -# ba he!or4" degree. Sin e I a- ta0ing : redit" at a ti-e+ I 0no/ it /i!! ta0e -e a /hi!e to a o-p!i"h thi". 6# !ong@ter- goa! i" to get a tea hing =ob at the Ca"t!e*ord S hoo!. There are a *e/ tea her" getting read# to retire in a *e/ #ear" and thi" i" /here I a- doing -# *ie!d e3perien e. It i" a /onder*u!+ *riend!# en$iron-ent *or hi!dren and tea her" a!i0e. I a- hoping that b# doing -# *ie!d e3perien e+ "tudent tea hing and "ub"tituting there that I an get a *oot in the door /hen a po"ition open" up. I ha$e ne$er thought about being a tea her be*ore+ but a" I -ature+ I *ind that it i" the per*e t p!a e *or -e. I ha$e !earned that through -# edu ationa! ba 0ground+ /or0 hi"tor#+ "er$i e" and e3tra urri u!ar a ti$itie" that I ha$e a !ot to bring to the !a""roo-.