Why I Want to Teach

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Growing up in my house I was surrounded by kids. With two younger siblings and my mom running a daycare from our home there were always plenty of children around. However, whenever asked the ever popular"What do you want to be when you grow up?" question I always replied with a glamorous answer, like an astronaut or a doctor or a lawyer. However, as I approached the end of my high school days I became more and more interested in education. I loved working with kids and school was my favorite place to be. It seemed like the perfect combination.

During my senior year of high school I was a Teacher Extern with my third grade teacher. During that year I would work in her classroom for two hours a day, witnessing first hand what real teachers do. I saw the behind the scenes work, including photocopying, laminating, stapling, and cutting that are required for most lessons. I saw the amount of planning required for each day. I saw frustration. But I also saw a unbelievable amount of change and joy. The students respected their teacher and where willing to learn from her. They made strong relationships with one another. In no other job had I seen of rewards. I knew teaching was for me.

When I arrived at Western Michigan University I enrolled in the Elementary Education program. When I complete my schooling in December 2003 I will be certified to teach an inclusive classroom, grades K-5 and science in grades 6-8. I will have a minor in Integrated Creative Arts, emphasizing how to use different forms of art in the classroom throughout the curriculum.