Finale

Now that you have completed this course and the Service Learning component, what have you decided about becoming a professional teacher?  

I have decided that being a teacher is a really complex job. You fulfill a lot of different roles in the lives of the children you teach, mom, nurse, councilor, and teacher. You are not simply there to teach. You are to be there for them. But one of the ways you will be able to help them in the rest of their lives is to help them learn. A teacher has so many roles but together they make the most important role of a teacher.

Do you think this is the career path for you?

I do. I love the kids. I want to do all that I can to support them and give them all an equal chance at life. I realize they all come from different backgrounds in life. I know I did. And I was very grateful to my 6th grade teacher who made me feel loved and supported during hard times at home. She also helped me stay on top of my school work and encouraged me to be the best I could be. I want to be that kind of teacher. I want to help kids do their very best and find confidence in what they can do. I want them to feel like their classroom is a loving supportive community where they can foster friendship and encourage each other to do their best. 

Has the Service Learning helped influence your decision? What are your next steps?

Yes it has. Really I think nothing could better prepare me for teaching more than spending 6+ hours a day in the elementary school. I have helped teachers with their class on all levels. Weather it be grading, copying, teaching, or talking to students at recess about what is appropriate or not. Sometimes helping to settle feuds and other times breaking up fights and talking to students about what could have been done to resolve the conflict without violence. Often times I feel I work with all the problem students from the whole school. But often times it is hard to see at first that they are just a kid with a good heart trying to figure out where they fit in school. I want to keep working at the school and learn more about teaching at UVU so one day I can teach a class of my own.

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