Why I Choose to Teach
I didn’t grow up aspiring to be an educator. SHOCKER, I know. Instead, like
most kids, I had a million and one forever changing dreams during various
points of my life. In elementary school, I wanted to be a singer. I joined children's choir and envisioned myself as Christina Aguilera herself when I was assigned second row soprano. Singing in the shower and during long car rides became my specialty.
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| "To Kill a Mockingbird" |
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| Northwest Basketball 2010 |
In high school, I lived and breathed the game of basketball. The bounce of a ball and the squeak of shoes on the court became my constant, sought-after melody.
Near the end of my high school career, I knew basketball wasn’t going to carry me in to adult-hood, and neither were my childhood aspirations of being a singer or an actress. When dabbling in these different hobbies I wasn’t thinking about what was best for me for the rest of my life. Instead, I was loving my temporary yet utterly fulfilling desire to do what I wanted in the moment. Part of me was lost; and the other, outright angry for not having had more direction in life - for not having someone to whisper in my ear, "Sarah you need to be fill in career name here."
I knew that I loved English Language Arts, so going into college I decided to study it with no regard for how I would use it in the real world. Upon years of study and reflection upon brilliant works of literature, I had one of the greatest “A-HA!” moments of my life. In all of my loves in life - singing, acting, playing basketball, and many more - I was driven, inspired, satisfied, thriving, and in love with what I was doing and who I was. I was given the world, and by strangers I had never known until I walked into their classroom. My hobbies were shaping me into a well-rounded young women in responsibility, communication, satisfaction in work, and so much more. A-HA!! The most taken-for-granted individuals I had known in my life were now, I had finally realized, the teachers who pushed me to my utmost potential and, more importantly, to discover what made me happy. I decided that there would be no greater career fulfillment for me than doing for students what many of my teachers did for me.
I still sing horribly in the car, but I'm not nervous to speak in front of people. I no longer exist between the curtains, but my quirky personality and ambition to be successful is ingrained in my character. I still play pick-up basketball (via getting blocked because I'm a mere five-four), but I know what it feels like to win, lose, and pick-up myself ready to get back to work no matter what. This, along with my love for English Language Arts, is what has molded and inspired me to take on the education profession.
If you are reading
this and have been a teacher in my life - You have inspired me to be who I am
today. A million “Thank you!” notes could never fulfill the debt I owe you for
the work and love you put into my life. So instead, I will show the same love
and care for my students as you did to me. This, I know, is even more satisfying
for you than any thank you I can give.
Many Thanks,
A special thank you to my student teaching mentor, Mrs. Mandi Bush. It's only been a month in the classroom with you, but I can already see myself calling you years from now either frustrated or rejoicing about the triumphs and trials of this profession. You make coming to school everyday something I truly look forward to.
