First Grade the Second Time Around by Taylor

First Grade the Second Time Around by Taylor - June 2019 Scholarship Essay

Since fourth grade, I have known that I wanted to be a teacher. My senior year in high school, I was lucky enough to participate in an internship in which I was a teacher's assistant and co-teacher. After my first day I questioned whether I could handle the daily responsibilities of a teacher, even going as far as considering changing my school schedule to work and support my family instead. My mentor encouraged me to keep coming back and spending time with the first graders.
At Christmas, my students drew me holiday cards and my mentor gave me a gift. I knew I could not walk away from the class because I would miss them too much. Months continued to pass and as graduation grew closer, I did not even consider that I would have to say goodbye to my first students.
I realized I would have to say goodbye on my last day. I walked into the classroom and stayed two hours past my time, all the while missing my shift at work. When it was time for me to leave, my teacher announced to the class that I would not be coming back. My nineteen students lined up to give me hugs goodbye, the last little girl being my favorite teacher. She showed me I could handle being a teacher and put the love of teaching back into my soul. I will never forget my favorite teachers – my first group of students – and I will never forget her. They all showed me that I could not only handle being a teacher but enjoy it as well. They all showed me I could do what I want despite what everyone says. They inspired me more than their seven-year-old imaginations could fathom. Because of them, I have chosen to pursue my education to teach in the future by majoring in English at the University of Texas.