For as long as I can remember I have wanted to be a teacher.

Growing up, as other kids

played with dolls or rode their bikes, I was happiest spending all of my free time in my make

believe classroom. I would set up the white board and create assignments. My little sister was

even my star pupil as I lovingly forced her to partake in my lesson plans. Throughout my years

on this earth, I have always been told I was made to be a teacher. I have been told that by those

close to me and by complete strangers. Possibly it’s my endless love for children and how they

make my heart light up or the smile that’s always on my face when I’m around them. I have

never felt more purpose then when I’m in the classroom. Besides, of course, being a mom.

I believe that it is never too early to build one’s character. In my classroom, it’s my

philosophy to raise good, kind, people. Author R.J. Palacio once said “When given the choice

between being right or being kind choose kind.” That is the foundation on which my classroom

will be built. Choose to be kind and without a doubt you will be capable of making a difference.

There is a quote by Bryan Scavnak that is my philosophy in teaching each student that enters my

classroom. “Some kids are smarter than you, some kids have cooler clothes than you, some kids

are better at sports than you. It doesn’t matter. You have your thing too. Be the kid who can get

along. Be the kid who is generous. Be the kid who is happy for other people. Be the kid who

does the right thing. Be the nice kid.” If each child who enters my classroom can grow with those

philosophies in mind, that’s all that matters to me. Even if it’s just one child, that is one more

who is changing the world with generosity, happiness, and kindness.

Every day in my classroom, I want my students to be limited to sitting behind a desk as

little as possible. I want my students to be involved with hands on activities that are designed to

keep their attention and stimulate their brains. Learning is an adventure, an exciting one at that.

My goal is to instill a love for learning early on, not deter that love with work that will
overwhelm my students. I want my classroom to have a loving environment where everyone

feels welcome, a classroom that is their home away from home. If you truly think about it, the

classroom is their second home and that is exactly how they should feel when they are inside my

class.

Although I am not a teacher, yet, I do know what type of teacher I want to be and what is

required of me to become that teacher. Being inside the classroom doing my field observation

made me realize just how badly I want to become a teacher and spend my days inside the

classroom. The teacher and students I worked with changed my life. Especially a boy named,

Connor, who has Autism. He gave me confirmation that I am supposed to work with those who

have special needs. In the fall I will start my journey to obtain a bachelor of arts in elementary

education with a concentration in special education. I understand that in order to become a great

teacher, there are certain qualities I need to possess. Those qualities include but are not limited

to: a passion for teaching, a love of kids, understanding the role a teacher is in a child’s life, a

work ethic that doesn’t have quitting as an option, a willingness to reflect, being organized,

understanding that to be a good teacher there is a constant struggle to continuously improve,

enough confidence to survive the hard days, and enough humility to remember that it is not about

me. The definition of a teacher is a person who teaches, especially in a school. My definition is a

person who teaches, while especially making a difference.

I cannot wait for the day I’m able to make a difference inside my own classroom. The

road to get there won’t be easy but it will be worth every assignment, long study hours, and the

frustration of already wanting to be a teacher but still having a long road ahead before actually

teaching inside a classroom. “Kids don't remember what you try to teach them. They remember

what you are.” –Jim Henson