As the kids all around us were playing and laughing, there I was on the playground visiting with the teacher’s aide declaring, “Well, going back to school is nothing I’ll ever do. I have neither reason nor any desire to continue my education.” That was two years ago. Now I am the teacher’s aide, writing an essay for my first class toward my degree in Elementary Education.
As the oldest of four children, there were a lot of expectations and responsibilities placed on me at a young age. My dad was an engineer, and my mom was a depressed home-maker who had quit school age sixteen. I was an average student throughout elementary school; my only interest was playing sports with boys. Lacking discipline, encouragement, and direction, I lost my focus in school and dropped out at age sixteen.
As a young adult and mother, I acquired a General Equivalency Diploma and enrolled in the local community college. I put myself through college by waiting tables, which required much discipline, commitment and hard work. Working with the public taught me the value of being gracious and understanding, and I began to recognize my potential in working with people. I became driven to excel and received an Associate of Science in Business graduating with honors. After several administrative positions with various companies, I felt it was time to apply the skills I acquired in school, so I established and operated a daycare facility. This allowed me to exercise many of the directorial and organizational skills I had learned while developing a greater understanding of children and society. My husband and I then founded, managed, and worked retail bagel bakeries in addition to home schooling our two sons. We also became youth leaders at our church, where there were many of the high school kids that hung out at our shop. This required planning, preparation, and organization. My capacity to be patient, flexible, compassionate, loving, and amiable was stretched beyond imagination.
After we left the bagel business and put our boys in public school, and I began substitute teaching in elementary and high school so I could be with our sons. Throughout this time, I was asked to work at a junior Bible camp, which turned out to be a very rewarding, enriching experience. After two years as a substitute teacher, I accepted a position as a Paraprofessional and Athletic Director for the elementary school. Over time, I began to have thoughts of becoming a teacher.
I am still having trouble believing that I have returned to school once again to begin another new chapter in my life. As I have been asked to write reflective papers, I have realized that all of my life experiences have prepared and equipped me for teaching. This is the best thing that will help me attain my long-term goal of creating an environment that will foster and encourage the growth of children to become responsible, caring adults.