Reflection #1

Reflection #1

Being a teacher was one of my many professions I wanted to be growing up. I would always sayI wanted to be a "Kindergarten or first grade teacher." I feel as if this first came about in first grade when I adored my teacher. Even though I was not the perfect teacher she always seemed to discipline me fairly and without being harsh or rude by any means. Though many other professions crossed my mind growing up. Such as an actress, a plastic surgeon, a psychiatrist, and a dental assistant. Though, during high school education always weighed out the others. So, towards the end of high school and college, when choosing summer jobs (after I was tired of life guarding 3 summers in a row) I knew I wanted something involving working with children, since education was my tentative major, I wanted to know for sure if it what I wanted to do with my life. The summer after my senior year (18 years of age) I worked for a summer leadership program coaching children ages 7-14 volleyball, basketball, and soccer. After this summer I knew for sure that I wanted to be an educator. I then went on to decide my major to be elementary education at ball state. This past summer (and this coming summer) I worked at a summer residential camp in Naples, Maine. It was one of the greatest experiences of my life. I taught swimming to girls 8-12 years of age and was a bunk counselor for girls 14 years of age. This summer made my passion for teaching and children even stronger. These experiences affected me because I was able to see how the children grew throughout the time of me teaching them. It is a great feeling to know how you have affected a childs life in any kind of positive way. That reason makes it even better to know that teaching is what I will be doing with my career.

Lizzy