Why I want to be a teacher is a question that I have pondered repeatedly over the years since I graduated High School and began my life after graduation. There were several influences in my decision to become a teacher. I grew up with him working in the woods working from week to week and dreading each Spring and 'Mud Season'. He made the decision to finish his degree in the early 1980s that he had started nearly 20 years earlier. After teaching for 15 years he decided to further his education and began taking classes at U.M.O. for his Master's in Administration. He graduated with his Master's in 1997. Following 2 years at Medomack Valley High School as the Assistant Principal he was hired to his dream job, Principal at S.A.D. #21 Dirigo High School. It was an achievement made more significant by the fact that Dirigo was his Alma mater, but it is also my younger sister's and mine as well. My father passed away a few short months after gaining this position. However what I saw was a determination to not only finish what he had started so many years before, but also that one person can impact many lives by simply doing what they love and have a passion for.
The second reason for becoming a teacher is because of my older sister who also graduated from U.M.F. She and I had a tenious relationship during the early school years, much like any brother and sister. Once I 'grew up' and got out into the 'real world' I realized how much my sister had accomplished and how much she meant to me as a resource and a mentor. Her teaching career got off to a rocky start with some political issues in the old Rumford School System causing her to spend several years away from teaching. Much like my father, this did not deter her and she eventually came back to teaching and landed a great job that she loved very much up until the time she passed away last year.
And of course no reasons for being a teacher would be complete without including a teacher. The most influencial of my teacher was my high school history teacher, Mr. Watson. He has a great sense of humor and he brought that with him into the classroom. He was able to teach more than just the basics of history, his passion for the subject came through as did his desire to want to see each of his students succeed. It is that same passion and drive to see each of my future students succeed, that will be my measure of success.
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3 comments:
Nice reflections. It's obvious this is not the first time that you've thought about this.
:>dr.theresa
I have spent many hours and days on this subject and it was not an easy decision. I had to give up what was becoming a very lucrative career with an eye toward making myself happy. I do look forward to the day when I can cross the stage and receive my diploma and my desire for that has not changed. As for my question I have not gotten any indications from my fellow students what their decisions are and how this first quarter affected them.
Looks like you did a summative assessment on this question instead of "How do I become a teacher?" Guess what . . . I'm going to count it. :-) You've done a really thoughtful and deep-thinking job on these blog entries, including this one. Congratulations. I can't wait to work with you in Practicum!
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