Why do we teach? Is it because we want the school holidays off with our kids? Is it because we have weekends off? Or could it possibly be for the love of working with kids? Everyone has different reasons for why they want to become a teacher. I have done many jobs in my working life. I have been a lifeguard, a babysitter, a waitress at several different restaurants, a newspaper delivery person, and a kindergarten assistant. The most joy I have found was when I was in the classroom working with students.

I always knew my working life would take one of two paths, either becoming a teacher or a hair dresser. Both of these are something I really enjoy doing. I believe the first time I started thinking about becoming a teacher was when I was a third grade student myself. I remember my third grade teacher very well. She had a way about her that just seemed to make sense. She made learning fun and enjoyable. She took time with each student to work with them and seemed to build on their strengths and encourage progress in their weaknesses. To me, her classroom was always inviting and a fun place to come and enjoy learning.

When I was old enough to start babysitting, I used to do it after school and would help them on their homework. Watching them learn and knowing that I helped them to better understand what it was they were learning about was a real high for me. I began tutoring my family members in various subjects where they were struggling with their learning and being the oldest in my family, I had already been through it. Where their teachers were failing to help them understand, I seem to accomplish it. I still help my brother in the math and English areas to this day. I guess you could say I come from a family of teachers. My grandmother was a school administrator in Colorado before she retired and moved in with us. My mother being a registered nurse also taught nursing classes at the local college. My brother, sister, and I have all pursued an educational degree. My brother is going to school for secondary and coaching. My sister went for her associates in early childhood and plans to go back for her BA. I am seeking my BA and soon my Masters in elementary education.

Being a mother of 4, I like the idea of vacations with my children and being home with them in the evenings where most jobs you don’t get that. But I consider those added perks to my profession. I love working with students. I love watching their eyes light up and the huge smile they get on their face when they have accomplished a task or learned something new. I enjoy spending time with children and working with them. I like getting down on my knees and working one on one with a student to help them better understand the content they are being asked to learn. I like watching the creative side to children and it always puzzles me wondering what they are thinking about when they come up with something way out in left field. I love hearing the laughter and seeing the smiles on the faces of children when they have thought of something new or heard a story they really enjoyed.

My years as a student myself has been very challenging for me but I believe it has shown me what students go through on a daily basis while attending school. Being in the educational program, I have had to analyze my own strengths and weaknesses and have been shown various methods to not only help me grow, but to help my students in the future to grow as well. Thinking back to third grade when I first started to have the dream of being a teacher, I saw it as being something fun and easy to do and at the end of the day; I could leave my work behind and enjoy my evenings.

My views of being a teacher have changed. I still see it as fun but I also see it as a lot of hard work and dedication. I see the need for patience and understanding and the ability to think quick on my feet to make changes where needed to help my students learn to the best of their ability. I see making lesson plans with the thoughts of my students and their learning needs in mind to accommodate them as much as the school day will allow.  I see many joyous times and smiles when students catch on and really get into a subject being taught. I also see trying times as we struggle together to learn material. At the end of the day, I don’t see myself leaving work behind, instead I see myself enjoying my own kids while thinking about my class and ways I can improve as a teacher. I see long hours planning and coordinating with fellow teachers with little respect from parents and outsiders. But what makes it all worthwhile is the smile at the end of the day from each of my students, the mutual respect we hold for each other, and knowing at the end of each school year that I made a difference in the lives of my students.