When I was little I never wanted to be a teacher. I saw how much work my teachers would put forth to make my education memorable, and how little they got paid. I also was afraid to be the teacher who everyone hated.
Everything changed while I was on a missions trip to Puerto Rico and we began to prepare to run a VBS at a local school while we were there. I spent hours planning lessons, packing up for the trip, and praying so hard that I could impact these children, but what happened when I got down there, my dreams change.
As I began to work with these eager children I noticed one little boy in the back of the room. He was nonverbal, and he was self-isolated. My heart instantly broke for him, and I spent my whole trip working with him.
By the end of the trip, this little boy would let me hold him, and was using gestures to be able to communicate with me. At that moment my life goal of being in a C Suite was ended because I knew I was created to be a teacher.
On my way back to Rhode Island I was so anxious about the switch in life tracks that I even tried to deny it for months. I eventually gave up trying to do what I thought was right, and started on the journey I'm on now. I changed my major from Biochemical Engineering and Business to Youth Development with a minor in Gender Studies.
Not only did my interest in school increase, but so did my GPA, and motivation. Instead of being afraid of being a bad teacher I am making sure I will not be a bad teacher. I choose to go a more difficult route of pursuing an undergraduate degree in Youth Development over Education because I believe that by having a foundation in YDEV I will be a stronger advocate for my students and a better teacher. I also am planning on going to grad school for a Masters of Teaching to even further my efforts to be a positive teacher for my students.
I have now worked with over 100 kids, and I do not regret giving up the opportunity to make millions in order to make millions of smiles. I never thought I would pick working with kids, over sitting in an executive suite, but I realized that kids make life so much more fun!
I have never stopped smiling since I started working where I am supposed to be. Why would I want to make more money, instead of being apart of the next generations' successes?
