At the ripe age of 11 (7th grade) I formally decided to be a teacher. Most likely this inclination/desire grew slowly in the soul of my educational path up to that point and then finally decided to pop it's daisy head out of the ground. My first 8 years of school were spent at home, in my pjs, being taught by my mother. It is a curious thing - homeschooling. People often mock homeschoolers and stereotype them as the kids who are attached to their mothers and wear clothes that are the same color, just different shades (example, the all denim outfit consisting of several shades of blue). But I was not the stereotype, my family was not the stereotype. We didn't grow up socially awkward or incapable of looking people in the eyes. No, we played sports, from age five, we had friends, went to co-ops, and loved every minute of it. School was something I looked forward to, something I enjoyed. My mom taught me and my brothers. She used activities, games, art, and books. When we went to the co-op (Edmonds Homeschool Resource Center) I attended classes taught by teachers like my mom, just certified. The school provided a small, enjoyable learning atmosphere that allowed great intellectual growth, while keeping us all social. Teachers like Mrs. Moore, Mrs. Jenkins, and Ms. Getzen taught me stuff I still remember and employ today. Anyways, I enjoyed my elementary and Jr. High years a lot. This brings me to my freshman year - in which my education changed quite drastically. I went to public school (dun-dun-dunnnnnn) at Edmonds Woodway High School. My classes, although not the most challenging, helped me realize the joy of academic success (despite its habit for being the basis of mockery and teasing). I truly did learn there - just not my kind of scene. Homeschooled my sophomore year and then went through Running Start my junior and senior years. That experience ended up on the lower part of my "educational love scale". All of this boring background info just to say... I love learning. I loved school. I love that I love learning. I've decided that my reasons for teaching can be summed up in one phrase:
I want to teach so that others will want to learn.
Gosh, and doesn't it just seem so lame that I want to teach because learning is fun for me?! Oftentimes I wish that my reasoning was deep and full of emotion and contemplation. But it's just so simple for me. Actually, here are a couple other reasons I want to teach that are tiny shoots sprouted from that one phrase:
1: To be a rock and shelter for students who don't have one.
2: To shine the light of God that He has so blessedly implanted and kept burning inside of me.
3: To make school enjoyable.
4: I have a heart for Jr. High kids because I know how hard those years can be.
I think that's basically it. I want to teach Jr. High English. Actually, I'd eventually like to teach Art, but English can be fun if taught correctly and that's what I hope to do.
I hope to learn as much as possible about technology in education (lame answer yes?). Actually, I'd like to really grasp all these new AMAZING advancement! I think it's totally cool - despite my dislike for online forums (I'd like to specify that I'm a fan of blogs, just not those Discovery forums). I don't know much about what's out there right now so I'm excited to find out!
Bravo to you if you read all this.
Until next time.
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Ha... I read every word and enjoyed your story. Yes, your passion for learning was obvious in what you shared and it will overflow into your classroom. You are blessed to have four great reasons to teach and they will carry though the rough days that you will no doubt have during your teaching career. Blessings!
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