Why I want to be a teacher by Elaina

Why I want to be a teacher by Elaina - August 2024 Scholarship Essay

When I was younger, I was different. I talked differently than the rest of the kids because of a speech impediment and struggled more with reading. This led to bullying about the way I talked. This bullying made me feel insignificant and not good enough. When I’m a teacher, I don’t want this to happen to any kid. I want to make a safe environment where kids feel safe to come to the teacher when bullying happens. I also want to make a fun interactive classroom where all kids are able to learn. I struggled with reading and speaking so I struggled with my homework everyday. My mom tells stories of me coming home everyday from school and doing homework for hours. I want to put effort into every kid that is struggling and help them learn to succeed like my teachers and mother did for me.
I first started as a tutor at Barfield Early Childhood Center. I tutored during Summer school, which was for students who were falling back on their IEP goals. I loved helping the preschoolers with their IEP goals, such as socializing and problem-solving. I got to see a side of them that was fun and silly that I loved being around. This helped me realize my passion for kids who have special needs and how I want every kid to feel loved. After 3 weeks of summer school, I was sad to leave. I gave all of the kids hugs on my last day and now have fun memories to look back on.
I work at a preschool, which I’ve been at for a year. I love all of the kids, especially the ones who need a little bit more help. Aubrey is one of my favorites and she has a hard time being away from her mom and cries every time she wakes up from her nap. I snuggle her everyday and Aubrey ends up helping me put away beds every day. I have another kid, Evan, who struggles a lot. He gets frustrated easily and will scream when he gets frustrated. I've had to work with him to take a deep breath and ask for help. When he's in a good mood, he has the biggest hug. It's been a long process and he still struggles, but I know I have to keep trying. I've loved getting to know all of my kids and getting to help them past their frustrations.
I want to be a teacher because I want to make a difference in kids' lives. I want to do my part and help kids overcome their obstacles. I want to help kids find their confidence in themselves. I want to push them and let them grow. I can’t wait to continue to impact these kids' lives for years to come. I can’t wait to be the teacher that the kids remember as the teacher who always cared and never gave up on them.