Weekly Reflection

ED2500
Lauren Smith
January 22, 2015
My Inspiration
The biggest influences that have encouraged me to become a teacher come
from my experience with both teachers and children. As a student moving from
elementary school, middle school, high school, and university, I have encountered
countless interactions with teachers on a variety of levels. As I have had healthy
relationships with teachers who have shown me that they care for my education,
and have executed their lessons in a passionate manner, I have also witnessed
teachers who have been reluctant to create a relationship with students and who
have carried out their lessons in a manner that was difficult for students to pay
attention to and understand. All experiences that I have had with my teachers and
professors have inspired me to become a the best teacher I can be by having faith
in every students learning ability, executing passion and patience in my teaching
methods, and creating an environment of respect for myself, students, and staff.
Aside from being inspired by my teachers, I have been motivated through my
experience working with children to become a teacher. I have been working with
children for as long as I can remember. From coaching soccer and volunteering in
elementary classrooms for two years to working at before and after school care
programs and organizing summer camps for six years, I have been entertained,
challenged, and motivated to continue working with children and, in turn, inspired to
become a teacher. I have learnt so much from working with children. One thing that
I really attempt to do when I work with children is to be patient with each child and
remember to show each of them that I care.
Participating in the ED2500 course has finally given me the opportunity to look at
teaching through another window. I have already become interested and excited in
the assignments that are here and ahead as well as become enlightened by the ATA
and Effecting Teaching workshops. I am already learning so much that I have never
thought of before which excites me even more for what is ahead. The lessons about
teaching that have really made me think involved the presence of equality, fairness,
and consistency as well as the definition of a healthy relationship between teacher
and student.
My name is Lauren Smith. I am a third year general humanities student at the
University of Lethbridge, where I study English literature, drama, and native studies.
My dream is to become a high school English teacher where I will teach the works of
Keats, Wordsworth, Shakespeare, Austen, Bronte, Dickens, Montgomery, the list

goes on. Even though I have a fear of high technology and the unpredictable
assurance of having a job, I am absolutely sure I want to become a teacher. I have a
passion for learning not only literature, but all subjects, which I think will enable me
to execute lessons and inspire the youth community. I am not just here to reach my
goal of receiving my degree of education for myself, but for my grade 12 English
class ten years from now.