I have not always wanted to be a teacher. When I was very young I wanted to be a doctor. However after reading Mary MacCracken's "Lovey: A very special Child" at age twelve, I made a life decision to become an educator. "Lovey" opened my eyes to the fact that there are young children who are angry, afraid, lonely, hurt, and confused. My early years had been so carefree and full of laughter. It shocked and hurt me to read that there are children who live in despair. I remember thinking; despair is not an emotion a child should have. To be a child means to have hope. I knew then that teaching would be my passion. I desperately wanted to help young children step out of despair and into the carefree world of a child, where laughter, magic, and hope are the essence of life.

As the oldest of nine siblings I have been caring for children most of my life. When I was a young girl I took pleasure in helping my mother change, feed, and entertain my younger sisters and brothers. As I grew older I cared for them when my mother was out during the day.

During my first two years in college I was an assistant pre-school teacher at a university daycare center. This was an excellent learning experience for me because I had never worked with children in a classroom setting. The most important thing I learned was the proper way to discipline a child. Realizing that children watch and imitate, I became aware that discipline starts with modeling for appropriate behavior. My next childcare position was also as an assistant teacher. I put my heart into my work. I took several methods' courses while I was teaching, and applied everything I learned. This situation was different from the first because I was not a student teaching at a university. With lesson plan and staff meeting responsibilities I was a peer among my fellow staff. The classroom was as much my responsibility as the head teacher's. I invested my time and energy to get to know every child individually. My hard work paid off. After two years I earned a head teaching position. This position was one of the best experience of my life. I can not even begin to explain all the things I learned and all the emotions I felt with each new day. The most important thing I took away from this experience was a respect for children I had never had before. I became aware of the fact that children have the same feelings and emotions that adults do. The only difference is adults have more life experience, so they can verbalize and understand their feelings. As a teacher my job was to be the voice of my students so that parents could better understand their children.

After teaching for four years as a head teacher without a Bachelors' Degree I realized that I was cheating myself and the children I loved so dearly. Everyday I spend in the classroom I realised how little knew. Going back to school to finish my Degree seemed to be the right thing to do for myself and the community I serviced. I am now in the process in completing my Bachelors' Degree and obtaining my teaching certificate. I know that with a greater knowledge of my profession and my passion for teaching I will be the best educator I can be.