a) In the course of my life I have had many struggles, but it was always an educator who helped me pull myself together and focus my attention and energy in a positive direction. I feel a tremendous calling and responsibility to return the favor and teach other students that I may be able to assist. I have faced many challenges since a young age and am ready to guide students in their responses to challenges.
During my second year of college, my father passed away. With his demise, my support structure crumbled and I struggled throughout the rest of my undergraduate years. As a freshman, I maintained a 4.0 GPA, was inducted into Alpha Chi honor society and was a Dean's Scholar. After the death of my father, my grades suffered. I forced to take work in order to pay living expenses along with taking on heavy course loads to finish my degree more quickly. As difficult as this was, in my final semester was in a car accident and died as a result of the brain damage. I felt emotionally broken, but, I still managed to graduate, but only with a 2.8 GPA.
One example of an educator who was instrumental in my ability to press on was my biology program advisor <PUT HIS NAME HERE> who counseled me, helped me find student employment, and provided me with stellar recommendations.While I was attending a community college in Killeen, TX (prior to transferring to MSU), I gained a small amount of experience as a substitute teacher. I found middle school students to be the easiest and most enjoyable to connect with. They are of an age that is at the cusp of formulating higher thinking skills and I loved seeing the spark of understanding as a student made a new discovery or was able to figure out a problem he may have previously struggled with.
My mother was an elementary school teacher and I regularly helped her decorate her classroom, grade papers and prepare lesson plans. I thoroughly enjoyed those activities and drew on those experiences while considering my decision to go to college for a Master’s in teaching. I am well versed in the work, and have proven myself in a wide variety of posts, whether it’s through the Tacoma Symphony Orchestra, or the department of defense.
My personal experience with teachers has lead me to see the effects a caring teacher can have on a student. I believe that my experiences overcoming terrible personal loss, as well as my subsequent work experience has provided me with a perspective on the hazards that await us in life, and how we must adapt in order to change with an ever-changing world.
b) Working with students requires the ability to multitask and constantly adapt to a rapidly evolving course of events. Middle school children have many things occurring in their lives as well as learning things that will have a life long impact on them. My previous work experience as well as the challenges I have faced in life has taught me many skills that will serve me well in teaching. Lessons such as patience, and persistence have been imprinted on me.
Prior to working in environmental compliance, I had previously worked with school-aged students as a substitute teacher. In my capacity as a substitute teacher I had first hand experience handling classes of various ages and scopes. I substituted in diverse areas and often had to review material last minute. As my interests in science developed through university, I was drawn to the life of a biologist. Practical experience in the world of science fascinated me. I was drawn to the problem of air quality and entered the compliance world. I was often charged with delivering reports and syntheses of material related to fieldwork. In my compliance role I felt like I could make an impact on the wider world.
During my compliance role I often had to explain and re-explain information. Different people understood information differently, and in order to reach them, different mechanisms must be explored. Aside from management and scientific skills, I also maintained an active interest in the arts and fieldwork in biology. For the past 7 years I have been a member of the Friends of Hylebos Wetlands in Tacoma, Washington. Through them, I am able to work in the field and identify fish species, particularly salmon. I am also a member of the Tacoma Symphony Orchesta chorus and participate in rehearsals.
Combined, I feel my past experience will provide me with the ability to explain concepts differently to children who do not understand it in a particular way. My various interests will let me engage a wide variety of students in ways that they may connect to better. Fieldwork has taught me the value of visual and practical teaching aids and I would like to implement them to the greatest effect.
c)
The public school plays a unique role in American society. The mission of the public school is to educate every child. Students of various backgrounds and abilities gather together to learn. Conventionally, students learn from the teacher, but in reality students also learning from each other and the outside world. Public schooling places students on the path towards appreciating the differences between individuals by integrating students of diverse cultural backgrounds.
While the mission of a teacher and a public school is to teach a student in the classroom, sometimes teaching entails other responsibilities. Children’s lives are as dynamic as adult lives. Young children do not have a sense of proportions that aging instills. While attempting to learn writing and arithmetic, a child’s family can be coping with stressors that may need to be managed for the good of the student and the class. Familial life may interrupt a child’s focus and education and social scandals amongst students can transpire and wreck havoc on the teaching and enrichment process. A teacher must be conscious of the whole student, and be able to adapt with whatever personal crisis a child might be going through.
A teacher’s job in the public school system is to often help students who are struggling to see light. Whether it’s dealing with a detail about linnaean taxonomy or the effects of what’s going on at home, a teacher must seek to constantly engage students in a personal as well as pluralistic way. The public schools offer a unique opportunity for teachers to adapt and learn from many students.
It may also function as a safe haven for students, whether it’s safety from bullies or hunger. Public schools have a societal role of being in loco parentis while parents are at work. It is a great responsibility that must be stewarded with care. Young impressionable minds should be taught the value of continued learning in life.
Public schools are essentially the engine of tomorrow. They educate 88% of American students. It is the schools role to position these children for future success and to help them see different perspectives on whatever problems they face. The role of the public schools is to look after children, teach them skills, and to instill a love of lifetime learning.
