A Teacher by Rajleen

A Teacher by Rajleen - January 2016 Scholarship Essay

A Teacher
I have always wanted to be a teacher, ever since I was a little girl. I can remember each and every one of my teachers, like it was just yesterday. Miss Hiro, my Kindergarten teacher was a cute little Japanese woman. Mrs. Love taught me how to read in first grade. She still teaches too. My nephew had Mrs. Love as his teacher last year and he’s only six years old. I feel old now. I am seventeen and graduating from high school this year and have made my New Year’s Resolution to be persistent in getting a scholarship to go to college so I can get my degree in Early Childhood Education.
Even after being geographically relocated as a freshman in high school, I felt my teachers understood the challenges I faced and worked with me. I was fortunate to have been placed in a loving foster home at the age of three and still reside in their care. I know it was hard for my legal guardians to take me out of Kamehemeha Schools and move to Arizona. It took them years to prove my ethnicity, so I could attend this best private school in Hawaii. After years of learning, Hawaiian history, now I need to learn American History? My teachers here in Arizona have been amazing as they let me share my Hawaiian culture with them.
It’s count down now for me. My mom has left this last part of my senior year up to me. She has stopped drilling me on the importance of education and has been patiently waiting for me to make up my mind. She has been my life coach for years now, encouraging me and believing in me. She is starting to let me fly now. It’s my decision to make for my future. So, I picked Grand Canyon University, submitted some paper work, got a representative to help me and of course my Mom is there to cheer for me along the way. My acceptance letter came in the mail and I think she was happier than me. I can tell she is excited, she even found a picture that I drew in Kindergarten with a stick figure lady pointing to rows of students. It said “I am 5 years old and want to be a teacher when I grow up.”
I want to educate children. I have always worked in the Children’s Ministry in Church. I have this great passion for children deep down in my heart. I may be the biggest impact on a child’s life and I want to be able to steer, direct, and guide them to be the best that they can be. Just like all my teachers did for me. I know this is the right choice for me. It is my destiny and who I am going to be, “A Teacher”.