As a future educator, I am most passionate about creating a safe environment for my students by incorporating culturally responsive practices and social justice into my classroom. As a woman who struggled with anxiety throughout my childhood, I understand the value of inclusion, respect, and equity in teaching. It is imperative to offer students with a safe haven during their formative years in which they are free to make their own opinions and formulate their own unique personality based on their life experiences. In America, we are fortunately surrounded by many different types of people and in the face of such diversity, unite together to form one nation. In light of the divisiveness of our country, it is incredibly important that student's …show more content…
From the first bell to the last, each class brought its own set of obstacles and stressors. Oral presentations triggered panic attacks, reading aloud caused stuttering and gym classes were humiliating. Science and mathematics classes were by far the most difficult to focus in, once the material began to become challenging and my mind began to race, stress and anxiety prevented me from properly focusing or asking for help. I spent many a late night attempting to decipher the material on my own, teaching myself the material as best I could and barely passing the class. It wasn’t until my junior year of high school that I had met a math teacher who was able to create a seemingly stress-free environment in her classroom. With her lighthearted approach to algebra, no question was too silly and no topic was too difficult for us to comprehend. By treating us with respect and compassion, I was comfortable enough to ask questions when I had them and I no longer had to spend hours a night trying to teach myself the material. In college I had a similar experience with my chemistry teacher, she was incredibly attentive and intuitive with all of her students. Her office was an open door, and she regularly would find her students in the study areas and ask each of us if we needed help. Being taught by someone who genuinely cared about their student's success was