The Satisfaction of Teaching by Ashley

The Satisfaction of Teaching by Ashley - August 2024 Scholarship Essay

Education is the cornerstone of success. Being able to understand a topic is proficiency, but being able to teach it to others effectively demonstrates mastery. For many, broadening their scope of knowledge is the ultimate goal, but mine is to educate. I aim to become a reliable source of information others can depend on.
Teachers and tutors are the foundation of society. However many believe that their importance has dwindled in the past years due to quickly evolving technology. This is not true. Educators are a core part of a person’s life, they can make or break someone’s love for learning. Having the right teacher is crucial to comprehension– that is why many people blame past mentors for their poor knowledge in a particular field.
Throughout my school career, I have had many “bad” teachers. Many knew their subject but did not know how to incorporate it into the classroom. To be a teacher, not only does one have to excel in their specific course, but they also have to excel in how they convey it. Every student has different educational needs, some may need other forms of learning. This is an obstacle many educators get stuck on, how do you accommodate every student? Although I am a student myself, I also find myself asking the same question.
All my life I’ve looked up to my teachers for putting the effort into my education. Now, I want to pay it forward and be just like them. My goal to teach is a goal that I’ve been passionate about for years. Even if it will take a long time to achieve, it isn’t too early to start now.
As a rising senior in high school, I’ve taken many of the courses offered by my school. I use my knowledge to tutor my peers who may need extra help. Many see it as a waste of time because their education has nothing to do with my own, but I think that the more I help others, the better my understanding of it is. No time is wasted if it’s to help others succeed. I still remember the day my algebra teacher thanked me for preventing a student from failing her class. The rush of happiness I had for them was immeasurable because it also meant that I could do it. It opened my eyes to something I didn’t know that I had the skill to do. Since then I’ve dedicated my free time to helping other students that are struggling to keep up in their classes. Whether that is staying after school to tutor or giving up my lunch periods to be a teacher’s assistant, I’ve wanted to make an impact on someone’s educational journey.
However, critics say that I'm creating more competition for myself. But why should I gatekeep knowledge from people who are just trying to learn? The mindset that everyone is a competitor is shallow and selfish because collaborating and helping others is how we advance our understanding. Sharing knowledge helps everyone be more confident and develop skills that both parties benefit from. Education is not a competition, it should be an opportunity to improve yourself as an individual.
In the grand scheme of things, I’ve only taken a few steps towards my goal. I still have a long way to go before I’m able to say that I have achieved it. But as they say, starting is the hardest part, I'm determined to be proud of my efforts.