Good Morning Miss Jaelynn! by Jaelynn

Good Morning Miss Jaelynn! by Jaelynn - February 2024 Scholarship Essay

“Good Morning Miss Jaelynn”. This is the phrase I have been waiting to hear since our Principal asked me at our Kindergarten graduation what I wanted to do when I grew up. Becoming a teacher has been my goal for as long as I can remember because I have always enjoyed helping anyone whether it was to play a game, be a friend, give someone encouragement or even an explanation of how to work a math problem.
My 3rd/4th grade teacher, Mrs. Crusha, was special to me because she taught me how all kids should be treated. There was an instance in class when the girls in my class and I had an argument. Mrs. Crusha took the time to show me and my classmates how to handle the situation. She had us work on team building activities to prove we can and need to respect each other. This is one lesson I learned about getting along with others; you may not like everyone, but you should always be nice and treat everyone with respect. Mrs. Crusha made learning fun. She gave us small prizes when we finished our work and met our goals so we had something to strive for to do better. Even though we thought we were just playing, I now realize we were also learning new skills without knowing it.
I am currently a Teacher Cadet at St Mary’s Catholic school in the preschool and kindergarten classes 3-4 hours a week. I’m learning how to interact with students in a way they will understand and to help them remember what they learn. Seeing their faces light up when they can re-sight all the numbers and can visually recognize their name is especially rewarding. I am also completing a dual credit course entitled “Teaching As A Profession” through the Launch program and Missouri State University so I will be able to obtain a Paraprofessional certificate by the time I graduate high school in May 2024. As a Paraprofessional I will have the option to work in a local school while in college so I can continue gaining insight to how individual teachers interact with their students.
Beginning in August 2024 I will begin my college pursuit of an undergraduate degree in Early Childhood Education and minor in either Special Education or Business Management. I look forward to teaching preschool or early elementary students for several years so I will obtain a higher knowledge of managing a classroom and how to interact with students who have a wide range of learning abilities. Within 5 to 10 years after receiving my teaching degree I want to open a preschool center so I can teach children the skills they need to become who they want to be. As a teacher, I want to create an atmosphere where children are comfortable enough to come to me when they have problems or concerns as well as being able to teach students new skills or improve on what they already know. I feel helping children in their youngest developing ages is the best way I can give back to my community.
This scholarship would help give me the experience and financial ability to become the Teacher I want to be to other children, just like Mrs. Crusha was to me.