As long as I can remember, I have always wanted to teach. My passion for children started when I took a class in middle school that allowed me to read to kindergartners. Every time I would go into that class, I would hear, “Ms. Jenelle! You're here!” from one of my favorite little girls. My passion for teaching only grew once I started helping out at church. Those little guys drove me up the wall, but they stole my heart by doing so.
Now, back to present day, I am finishing up my associate degree and early childhood education credentials. I am looking to transfer to a college within the next year. I have never been so certain of my dream of teaching than I am now. Even though we have a president who clearly does not respect public education and my future looks uncertain my future students lives are in jeopardy of being changed forever.
My wonderful state is one of the worst for public education. Teachers are paid terribly, spending per student has dropped, and the student to teacher ratio has increased. This causes stress on both teachers and students. If our leaders do what they say, then this will only get worse. You see, my future students are my life. I go to school, I work my butt off, and I struggle for them. I strive for amazing grades, I strive for a wealth of knowledge, and I strive for excellence in academics. I don't do this for myself, but for them. They deserve so much better than what they have right now. They deserve to have the best teachers around, they deserve to be respected, they deserve to be taught by professionals, and lastly, they deserve a future.
Even though our current leaders are scaring me about my future (lowering pay, increasing stress, etc.), I don't care. You see, no matter how stressed I get, no matter how little I am paid, I will always show my students what true education looks like. Our youth are our future and if we don't treat them to a wonderful show of education the ending won't be very bright.
When we provide our students the chance to grow and learn, we give them the chance to change the world. They will go on to be the ones who end cancer, the ones who find cures to illnesses, they will be the ones who teach my children, and lastly they will become some of the brightest young adults in the world. That is the show that I do not want to miss, and you better believe I will be in the front row watching my kids prove our leaders wrong.
