To my academic advisor,

I want to tell you that though I don't agree with you, I understand what you are saying. After our advising meeting on Halloween, I was distraught and angry.

I heard what I thought you intended to say. Whether it was what you meant when you said it is a whole other issue. In different words, I heard that you don't think I should be a teacher.

And to that, I say, NO!

I completely disagree with that statement. I have wanted to be a teacher since the eighth grade. My mind hasn't changed.

When you told me this, again in different words, I was hurt. You are the person who is supposed to help me along my journey to my career, and yet you tell me that you don't think I should become the one thing I have wanted to be for long time.

You asked me what I wanted, and I told you that I still wanted to be a teacher. You just looked at me. You looked at me like you didn't believe me.

You told me that I should be more aware of my grades. I have a good amount of As in my general education and English courses, a few Bs and Cs, but nothing drastic. I haven't failed any classes.

But for some reason this struck you as odd because I succeed well, mostly As, in all my other classes, but I have solid Bs in my education courses. Please explain to me how Bs are a bad thing? I thought I was going to fail the one education course and I got a B in it.

This whole be-conscious-of-grades thing with you confuses me. In my first writing assignment for your class I wrote about a time when I was so involved in my grade for a class, and your comment was and I quote, "What do you think about this desire for 100% as a future teacher? I don't like it!" So, you don't want me to strive for the highest grade possible, but then again you want me to strive for the highest possible grade…? It doesn't make any sense.

You told me that I was looking for a back-up plan. You only said this because I have two minors. But my minors, theatre and music, relate to my major, English Secondary Education.

You think I am looking for a way out, but I'm really looking for a way in. If I get my degree and I have minors in theatre and music, I will be more marketable to schools. I can teach theatre alongside English, which has always been the dream. I can direct the plays and musicals at the school where I teach.

You told me that you were excited to finally have me in one of your classes after two full years of being your advisee. But then you told me that you were shocked with who I am as a student.

I am a quiet and reserved student. I always have been, and I probably always will be. It takes a lot for me to talk in my classes.

You learned that everyday-Emma and student-mode-Emma are two very different people. You worry that my reserved nature will affect my teaching ability.

I tried to explain to you that I know how to get up in front of students and teach them, as for two summers I've been a camp counselor. You told me that being a camp counselor and a teacher are very different things. And you know what? I disagree with that as well.

For two years I have had to teach kids ages ten and eleven how to play sports that I know nothing about, how to shoot an arrow from a bow while still remaining safe, that being different is okay, and that everyone is creative in their own way. I have had to deal with behavior problems and kids who don't want to participate. The only real differences between my time as a camp counselor and my future time as a teacher are: my "classroom" is a few acres of land, I'm teaching them things that aren't my studied content, and they are a couple grades younger than my certification will allow me to teach.

But I don't hold back. I have to deal with issues just like a teacher would.

After this meeting, I cried for at least a half hour. I left your office and went to work where I didn't get much done because I was stressing about what you said.

I didn't want to go to your eight am class the next morning, but I did. I sat in class and I actually participated. I participated because that was one of the things you said to me.

I realized after that class that though I still thought you meant it when you told me, in different words, that you think I shouldn't be a teacher, you want me to participate more in my classes. You want me to try harder and achieve better grades in my classes (specifically the education ones).

I am going to try my best to make you proud to be my advisor. I am also going to do my absolute best to prove to you that this is the thing I want!

Best Regards,

Emma