My journey to become a teacher has been long and sometimes
difficult. As a child, I was always playing with dolls and nurturing them,
making sure they were comfortable and safe. I would also play ‘school’ with them.
With my little chalkboard, I would teach my dolls math and English lessons. My
play always seemed to involve either being a mommy or a teacher. This was fine
with my parents, as becoming a nurse or a teacher were their only suggested
career choices for me.
I had a difficult childhood filled with anxiety and emotional abuse. I did not participate in many extra-curricular
activities because when I did decide to try out for a dance group or for the
school choir, my parents would say as I left the house, “Don’t get your hopes
up, you’ll never make it.” By high school I did not try for
anything anymore. I married very young, 18 years old, anxious to move away from
my parents, but not feeling as if I could live on my own. Soon after this, I signed up
to be a student at Salt Lake community college. Feeling lost and unsure, I
looked through the course catalog. There was a new program being offered called
early childhood development. I did not know what I wanted to do, but I liked
children and to be honest, it sounded easier than any other program offered. My
parents were disappointed with my choice, telling me I was too smart to ‘just’
be a daycare worker, as they saw it. I did well in the program and discovered
the correct way to raise a child and fill them with positive self-worth.
Two years later I graduated with
honors and received an associate degree. I wanted to move forward and work
towards a bachelor degree, but I was filled with doubt again and convinced
myself that getting a bachelor degree would be too difficult for me, even
though I graduated with honors. As my parents kept telling me, Salt Lake
community college was not a ‘real’ college. I was offered a job as a teacher in
the five year old class at the college’s lab school. I did well, and focused on
the social and emotional well-being of the children in my class. I worked for
Head Start in the Seattle area and was excited to know I was making a
difference in the lives of the children in my class. After eight years of
marriage, I had a child of my own and chose to stay home with her as well as my
other children when they were born. I was determined my children would have
a happy childhood, guarding their self-esteem as the most precious thing a
person can lose. I felt confident as a mom of very young children, but I was
nervous for when they became school age children. Would I still know how to
raise them? I discovered that I thoroughly enjoyed every age and developmental
stage as they came. I volunteered in their elementary classrooms and was
surprised to find I enjoyed working with older children.
After 23 years of marriage I found myself divorced and raising four
children alone. I was hired again at the community college’s lab school. Being
on my own raising children I realized I would need a better job that had
benefits and a retirement plan. This time I had no question, I wanted to be an
elementary school teacher. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed and too old to begin a career in
education, but my love for children and the belief that all children deserve a
quality education, keeps me going.
My philosophy in education is a child centered, but academically
challenging classroom. I want all children to feel safe and cared for. I want
to make a positive difference to a child in need. With all the core
requirements that must be taught, it is my goal to continually make social and
emotional health a constant part of learning. I love learning and going to
school and will always be on the lookout for educational opportunities to stay
current and relevant in my teaching.
The only real regret I have in my life is that I did not complete my bachelor
degree when I was 20 years old. My lack of self-esteem held me back. I will
fight for children and their beautiful self-worth so they will know they are
capable of anything.
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