When you ask students what their favorite subject is, most of the time they say physical education. Music and art sometime get thrown into the mix. Working with students as a teacher’s assistant, I have never heard someone willingly admit that they like educational classes.
While I was growing up, I never had my mind set on what I wanted to be when I grew up. In elementary school, I wanted to be a singer. I loved turning my Walk Man up and singing to Britney Spears, N’Sync, and 98 Degrees. I then realized that my singing was only meant for the shower. In middle school, my dream was to be a Forensic Scientist. I was constantly watching C.S.I. and Forensic Files, intrigued by the intricacy of how to solve crimes and murders. How small things could make a person guilty or not guilty.
When high school arrived, I was still very interested in everything related to science. I took every class that was offered. Then, during my sophomore year when it was time to sign up for classes, there was one that caught my eye. Anthropology. My mom persuaded me by telling me that it had a lot of science involved. I decided to give it a shot.
I walked into class with an open mind, not knowing what to expect. It turned out that I fell in love with it. I was intrigued with dates and population numbers and everything in between. I wanted to learn more.
There's always a coach or teacher that inspires you when you're young. Someone who awakens your interest in something, or that encourages you to achieve something incredible. That teacher for me was my U.S. History teacher sophomore year. His name was Mr. VanFrechen. Sure, he was a yeller and he didn’t like slackers (the reason I loved him.) He always believed in me. I always felt good after I left his class. I always felt like I was learning something.
Then, when I had shoulder surgery because of softball, I wanted to do physical therapy. I worked with physical therapists for over a year, and dealing with my own injury helped me to realize that I wanted to help people.
Now for the last 8 years, I have worked with children. Whether it be coaching, working in a daycare, or being a teacher’s assistant, I have thoroughly enjoyed working with kids and helping them to achieve their goals. I have realized that my calling is to be a teacher; to help children see their potential in themselves and realize their potential the way I saw potential in myself.
