Running head: AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL ESSAY 1

Autobiographical Essay

Ashley C. Tarkalson

Instructor: Dr. Egbert

EDUC. 201: Foundations of Education

AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL ESSAY 2

Autobiographical Essay

There have been many factors that have influenced my decision to become a teacher. My

educational background, work history, service opportunities, and extracurricular activities

continue to guide and prepare me for this career. It is very important to set goals for myself, and

take the steps needed so that I might become a true professional.

Educational Background

I attended kindergarten through twelfth grade at Salmon School District #291 in Salmon,

Idaho. I graduated from high school in 1998 with honors. I am currently attending the College

of Southern Idaho, taking online courses. I have had the opportunity to complete leadership

training for the Boy Scouts of America program, training for children with disabilities, and took

part in a dance therapy course through the Department of Health and Welfare. Through 4-H, I

was an ambassador in the International Foreign Youth Exchange to Austria.

Education and educational experiences have contributed to my development as a

professional educator. I have learned how to lead. I have been taught how to feed children with

stomach ports and a variety of teaching methods for children with severe autism. I have learned

the importance of movement, and how it allows some children to open up and learn. I am able to

adapt to different situations and surroundings. I gained confidence, study skills, and

communication skills. All of these experiences will help me in the future, for example: I will be

able to work with children with disabilities, and know that each child learns in a different way,

apply movement and music to my lessons, adjust my lessons to the environment of the classroom

daily, have confidence in my work and know how to lead. This will assist me in my efforts in

becoming a teacher-leader and manage a classroom with different levels of abilities.

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Work History

I have had the opportunity to work in a variety of jobs with particular roles and

responsibilities. As a waitress and office secretary at H.G.’s Place restaurant I served meals to

customers and managed food preparation. I met customer’s demands and fixed problems with

orders. I used my computer knowledge to keep books using the Quickbooks program and

developed my communication skills while conversing on phone calls. Being a salesman at

Arfmann’s Four Seasons clothing store, I organized clothing, made sale signs, tagged clothing,

worked with others, and managed customer service. I had the opportunity to be a

paraprofessional in the Life Skills division at Salmon School District #291, teaching children

with severe autism and other disabilities. I was a substitute teacher for the same district, working

two or three days each week for four years. I teach clogging at Backstage Dance Studio two

nights a week to students ages four to seventy. The past two years I have served as the guidance

secretary/registrar at the high school. This has given me the opportunity to work closely with the

counselors and advise students in college and career opportunities.

With these roles and responsibilities, I experienced through my work history, I will

implement the following attributes to teaching in the future: manage stressful situations with

parents and find solutions to problems, keep my classroom organized, use my computer

knowledge to teach my students, use my social skills to communicate with children and their

parents, and use the teaching skills I have already obtained to continue to do my best. I am a

hard worker and find joy in learning different tasks in any job I have. I will continue to gain

skills through my experiences and will apply them in my classroom.

Service and/or Extracurricular Activities

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I know that the service activities and extracurricular activities I have participated in

during high school and now, have also contributed to my education and development as a

professional educator. In high school, I was a member of the 4-H Builder’s club where I learned

how to lead, speak in public, serve my community, and complete projects. As a member of the

High School Dance Team, I learned how to motivate my fellow dancers, teach dance, and work

as a team. This coincides with my experience as a dancer at Backstage Dance Studio. I now get

the opportunity to share my talent as a choreographer and teach clogging to over 80 members of

my community. In Pep Band and Piano I learned how valuable music was and how it can make

others experience joy. Participating in my local church organization as a high schooler, I took

part in numerous service activities. Throughout the years I have continued to provide service for

my community, teach children, women, and young adults within this same organization.

Service and extracurricular activities have truly molded the person I am today, and will

continue to influence me in the future. These activities have been a positive contribution to my

development. Participating in a variety of activities continue to help me in becoming a well-

rounded person. This is one of the most important attributes I can possess. It allows better

communication with others and an understanding that everyone is different, but can still work

and respect one another. I have gained the skills I need to organize, follow through, and be

flexible, allowing me to oversee community events and donate my time as needed. These will be

crucial skills to incorporate in my classroom as well, teaching the children these same skills.

Reasons for Choosing Education as a Career

As a child I loved to play school with my cousin. I always wanted to be the teacher, but

she was older so I would end up being the student. I always liked the thought of being a school

teacher, but I found careers I thought I would enjoy more after I graduated high school. The first
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time I actually considered education as a career was when I began substitute teaching four years

ago. One of my favorite quotes that I share states, “Teaching is the act of sharing the knowledge

we have been given by others with the hope that someday in some way, it again will be passed

on.” (Unknown) This is why I decided to become a teacher, so I can share what I can with others.

I have also been influenced by community members and teachers within my school district. I

have had numerous individuals who have complemented me on my teaching skills. I had the

opportunity to work as a permanent substitute in the Title I division in the Junior High School, in

Salmon, Idaho. Daily, I was encouraged by the lead teacher to get my teaching degree because I

was “too good not to have in the classroom permanently.” Of course this boosted my

confidence and encouraged me, but I disregarded her call for three years. Others continued to

nudge me in the right direction, and I eventually had the confidence to register for college.

Two careers I considered after high school, ironically enough, both include teaching. I

have even been able to check them off my to-do list. The first is a homemaker; second is a dance

teacher. As a homemaker I have had the opportunity to raise my four children teaching them

honesty, hard work, and respect to others, as well as how to be self-sufficient. I have taught them

to read, communicate, and the importance of serving others. As a dance teacher, I help others

express themselves through movement, teach team work for competitions, and build my students

confidence by providing opportunities for them to grow. Extrinsic rewards I anticipate from my

teaching career include the same schedule as my children, the work hours, vacations, benefits,

and job security. Intrinsic rewards I look forward to while teaching are helping young people

learn and develop, the opportunity to challenge me personally, and a chance to change the world.

Professional Goals
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My long- term goals include becoming a professional educator by completing the

education I need to become a licensed teacher. I will finish my required courses at the College of

Southern Idaho and transfer to Idaho State University to complete my education. This will

require me to register and complete all the classes required for me to obtain my teaching degree.

I will do this by continuing my online classes, as I am now. I plan to work as a Secondary

Education teacher with an emphasis in Social Studies for the Salmon District. I will watch for

job openings when I get closer to completing my degree.

My short-term goals are to continue working as the guidance secretary for the Salmon

School District #291, and continue making connections with the students that I will one day have

in my own classroom. I will achieve this goal by meeting daily with students of need of

assistance. I will use my communication skills to engage with students and express my concern

and love for each one of them. My other short-term goals are to donate my time to my

community when needed, and do service on a daily basis.

In conclusion, I know that educational background, work history, service opportunities,

and extracurricular activities, have, and will continue to guide and prepare me for the career of a

professional educator. I will continue to set long-term and short term goals for myself. This will

help me stay on track so that I might obtain my end goal. I will take the steps needed so that I

might become a true professional.