By fall of 2017, I will have been in school for seventeen years and I am choosing to remain in a school building for a large portion of my adult life. I am choosing to surround myself with individuals that are decades younger than me for the rest of my life. No need to worry, however--I will be up-to-date on all of the latest Disney shows, Matchbox cars, and the latest fashion trends from Justice, Children’s Place, and Gymboree. I’ll be able to leave work every day with multi-colored stained hands due to all of the crafts I’ll take part in and will have a life-time supply of the newest Crayola supplies! Are you jealous yet, because I would be! Most of you have probably guessed--I am going to be an Elementary Education teacher. I have never found something that I am so passionate about and I can’t wait to make an impact on numerous little lives. Here are some reasons why I chose this path.

1. The Spark on a Child’s Face

One of the most rewarding feelings is seeing a spark on a student’s face when they finally understand a concept. Their eyes light up when a connection is finally made. We all know the feeling of learning something new, but to the youth, everything is new. Therefore, when you see the spark in their eyes, you know that they have finally understood something! I cannot wait to experience seeing the light on a child’s face every day in the future!

2. School Supplies, school supplies and more school supplies

Does anyone else get giddy when Target begins putting school supplies on their shelves? It’s seriously like Christmas morning! Aisles and aisles of Crayola products, notebooks and pencils is pretty intriguing to an elementary teacher. Fortunately, I get to buy school supplies every year! I get to stock up on color-coordinated binders, folders and pencils. I enjoy browsing the school supply aisles every year, regardless of whether I need new supplies or not. However, in the future I get the pleasure of visiting my favorite aisle every August!

3. Decorating my own Classroom

As soon as I was able to complete simple tasks, I began helping my parents in their classrooms. Later, in fifth grade, I was given the job of redecorating the classroom bulletin boards. So, I guess you could say that decorating classrooms runs in my blood. Thinking about decorating my future classroom makes me so excited and I may or may not have an entire Pinterest board dedicated to the occasion.

4. Love for literature

“My name is Junie B. Jones. The ‘B’ stands for Beatrice. Except I don’t like Beatrice. I just like B and that’s all.” As you can probably tell, I was a huge Junie B. Jones fan. While reading, I was able to find myself in the stories. I want my future students to be able to find themselves in a story and to love reading like I do. Throughout college I have pursued a minor in reading. My literature classes have created my love for literature. There is so much to learn through literature and I want to extend my love for reading to my students.

5. Superhero (Without a Cape)

Most superheroes wear a cape, but my type of superheroes wear name badges and carry clipboards. Teachers can be superheroes to students. At times, schools are a safe haven for young children. I want to be someone that my future students can confide in and come to in their time of need. Superheros are supposed to protect and care for their citizens. Therefore, I will always protect and care for my students!

6. Continue to learn

“Never stop learning because life never stops teaching.” You’re apt to learn a thing or two when living your life in a classroom. I’ve always loved school and loved learning, so it excites me knowing that I will continuously learn in my future profession. Not only will I be teaching my students, but I will also learn from my students. They will be able to teach me things that I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to learn from anyone else!

7. Following in my parents' footsteps

Despite their apprehension, I am following in my parents' footsteps. They both have taught elementary education for over twenty years. I have watched each of them interact with students and have learned so much by watching them in their classrooms. They each had their doubts about me entering the education field, but now they both see the passion that drives me to my future profession. Chances are, they’re slowly becoming tired of my endless education questions and constantly asking to borrow their supplies--oops!

8. Knowledge for the future

Every day, I will be given the chance to supply my students with knowledge and skills for the future. I’m so excited to shape the next generation and to teach them the necessary skills that will help them later on. In elementary school, they’ll learn how to form relationships, social skills, patience and many other skills that they will use for the rest of their lives. Whether they realize it or not, their personality and character will be shaped throughout elementary school and I hope that I can be a positive impact throughout that process.

9. There is more to life than test scores

As a future educator, I know the importance of standardized tests. However, I want my students to know that they are worth more than a test score. Of course I will prepare my students to the best of my ability, but I do not want to put a large amount of pressure on such young students. Young children are under large amounts of stress due to the standardized tests that are presented to them. I want them to score well, but I also want to be the person that convinces them that they are more than their score on a sheet of paper.

10. Chasing dreams

Being a future elementary education teacher, I will get the opportunity to boost self-esteem and encourage dreams. Life isn’t always kind to young children and unfortunately some have to learn lessons that no child should have to learn. Life throws curve balls, but I want to be there to boost my students’ self-confidence. Alvin Price once said, “Parents need to fill a child’s bucket of self-esteem so high that the rest of the world can’t poke enough holes to drain it dry.” This quote not only applies to parents, but to teachers as well! Teachers need to instill in their students that they are capable of anything and that it is necessary that they follow their dreams.

My passion for the education field will only grow stronger. I believe that education should be cherished to the highest extent. It is the backbone of our thoughts, beliefs and morals. Education can be obtained by a number of varied people in a person’s life. All in all, schools are a large part of an individual’s young life. Schools should teach the core academic subjects and also prepare the students for their lives after high school/college graduation. My love for my future career will flourish from here and I’m excited to see what my future holds!