Wyoming by Nichole

Wyoming by Nichole - December 2015 Scholarship Essay

Ten years from now I see myself in a classroom, not because I will still be attending college, but because I will be teaching. The classroom I see myself in is my own. Being a teacher has always been something that I have wanted to pursue. The idea of being able to share something I love with a younger generation was always exciting to me. That is why I have chosen to go to college and study to become an art teacher.
When I think about teaching I do not picture myself sitting in a class room idly finger painting to keep students occupied. I want to be there to help them learn and develop new skills and talents. I not only want teach and inform about art, but help inspire young artists and help them follow their passion. We live in a world where art programs are being sized down and discarded. I want to help students understand that art is still very much alive in the world today. I want to help them find a way to express themselves positively.
My education will be one of the most critical components of my teaching career. It’s not realistic to expect to be able to teach something if you don’t learn as much about it as you can. Studying art in college will be crucial for me to expand my understanding about different art forms and mediums. Although, learning about art will not be the only thing to help me become the best teacher that I can be. The education classes that I will take will help me develop the skills I need to be an effective teacher. Learning these skills in college now, will help me develop my own personal teaching style which, I can later adapt to fit the needs of the students I teach. Getting an education is no small task, it will take many hours of work, and years to complete. I have no doubt that it will be worth it. Being able to teach and inspire the next generation is where I see myself in ten years.