Why Teach?

            Why do I want to teach?  It seems like a simple question would have a simple answer, but the truth is I didn’t always know I wanted to be a teacher.  One thing I have always known is children are amazing.  They are so intelligent and they see our world in a way most of us can’t recall.

             I started babysitting children in my neighborhood at the young age of eleven years old.  It was the best job in the world.  I was amazed to be getting paid for something I enjoyed doing.  My reputation grew as parents soon realized I was a responsible, and trustworthy babysitter.  In no time at all, it seemed as if I was babysitting for half of the children in Grand Island NE.  I do believe my love of children came from my big family.  My dad grew up with seven sisters and brothers, which left me with thirty cousins.  Every holiday was full of children, and you can bet I was always outside playing hide and seek with my younger cousins.  At the age of fourteen I was a nanny over the summer and I felt like a little mom, it was a great feeling.  I ended up moving to Omaha where I attended Millard South High school.  This was a big change for me, because I came from such a small class in Grand Island.  I did not know anyone when I moved here, so babysitting was put on hold.  I did however truly feel I needed to find my place in the big school and I some how got involved with DECA, a competing high school business group. I became very active in DECA, choir, and environmental club.  All of these activities added on to homework and working part time at grocery stores kept me busy, and left me no extra time to spend with children.  I truly believed I would become an International Marketer and succeed in the business world.  It wasn’t until I began working for a woman named Sonya Crane, from my old church, when I truly realized my calling.

             Sonya ran a home childcare center, and when she saw me speaking with some children at church she knew I would be a great addition to her business.  Throughout the two years I helped Sonya, at Tireless Tots, she became my mentor.  She often told me I needed to do what God had called me to do.  She encouraged me to seek an education in the Early Childhood field, so I did.  As I attended Southeast Community College in Lincoln, I soon realized I had found my place in this world. My passion was in Early Childhood and I wanted to learn everything possible about it.  I had many practicum experiences and I was also working as a toddler teacher at Imagination Station.  I was working in a kindergarten room for my school age practicum and it was then I realized I needed to go on to receive my teaching certificate.  I was always intimidated by public schools and I never thought  I would be able to teach in an actual classroom, but with the support from amazing instructors and cooperating teachers I realized that getting my certificate would be my next step.

             As a child I did not like school.  During my elementary and middle school years, I was made fun of.  Math and reading were very difficult for me.  I never felt much support from my teachers.  I often felt I was invisible to them and they didn’t want to take the time to help me understand what they were trying to teach.  It was much easier for them to leave me behind and go on teaching everyone else who understood the lessons.  It was difficult for me to work hard on my schoolwork, because I didn’t think the teachers would even notice.  Throughout my education, I’ve always remembered a few teachers who took the time to make sure I “got it.”  They wanted me to succeed, so I tried hard to.

             Now as I’m beginning my junior year, here at College of Saint Mary, I am looking forward to the day I can use my talents with young children in a classroom.  I want to work in collaboration with other teachers, and parents to ensure no child in my classroom will be left behind the way I felt I was. Children should all be able to reach their fullest potential and I want to be there to motivate them along the way.  Children are so impressionable and wonderful; they deserve the best teacher possible.  I believe with my education from Southeast Community College, and now at College of Saint Mary, I will be that teacher.  I want to be a loving teacher who is truly in tuned to where her students are and where they need to be.  I understand being a teacher also means being a good role model.  I can’t wait for the day I will have the opportunity to use my talents and prepare these children of the twentieth century to proceed through their education and some day fulfill their dreams. 

Contact Rachel