President
Obama once said, “If you want to make a difference in the life of our nation;
if you want to make a difference in the life of a child—become a
teacher. Your country needs you.” As a teacher’s aide in the Life Skills
Program at Adams Elementary, I have discovered a profession that has become a
passion instead of work. Teaching in special education settings has taught me
not only to speak in people-first language but also to approach life from a
strengths-based perspective and see people for their abilities rather than
their disabilities. I arrive to class each day, regardless of my mood, and
leave lighter on my feet, more grateful for the little things in life, and
overall, a happier person. Recently, one
of my students who always makes me smile during every math lesson, was having a
difficult morning. I watched him
struggle and cry to the teachers, but I also watched him reach out to them for
comfort, knowing they deeply cared for him.
Teachers at Adams signify to me what it means to be a good teacher in
the eyes of a child. I observe in
amazement as the teachers transform difficulties into miracles. I have learned
that it is important for a teacher to show up each day ready to teach, but also
ready to learn. My experience at Adams has helped me to realize a teacher is a
lifelong learner.
After
living in New York City the past two summers working as a nanny for two
extremely wealthy families, I learned firsthand that money does not buy
happiness. It was not until I spent a
week teaching in Jamaica in a low-income community that I observed true
happiness in the lives of people who lived simply and humbly. However, as an underappreciated family
employee in New York, I yearned to be with people who understood what matters
in life. These experiences were handed to me, I am sure, not by accident. In
Jamaica, I had been more appreciated, loved, accepted, and at home than I ever
was with families in New York. By being
a member of the corps, I want to connect to the children who may not have the
material riches like those families in the city, but who deserve the riches of
humanity, love, acceptance, and educational success. As a corps teacher, I want to create a
nurturing space for children to feel safe to learn, grow, and develop into
their potential.
Maya
Angelou said, “I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will
forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” My
success would be determined by how I make students feel and whether they
believe in my commitment to them. I am
applying to Teach for America because teaching for me is not a job; it is a way
of life that makes me feel alive and at home, every day.
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