Looking back at the factors that influenced me to become a teacher has taken me on an interesting walk down memory lane. Although I always knew that I wanted to teach, I made a few detours along the way. Many personal factors contributed to the choices I made. After graduating from high school at the age of seventeen years and two months, leaving home after graduation, and trying to support myself while attending college, I was forced to examine some other fields that might allow me to finish college in a shorter amount of time. It wasn’t easy to be a seventeen year old girl on her own in Atlanta. Once my credits were transferred, I earned a Certified Medical Assistant degree in less than two years. Following a successful, but short, …show more content…
Yes, I rigorously study and teach the state standards. Yes, I stress over CRCT, and now Georgia Milestone scores, but those scores are not indicative of the whole child’s world. Some come ready to learn and soar to new heights, but others are floundering in the water. Those who are floundering my never measure up to state standards, but that doesn’t mean that they are not capable of improving or worthy of the best I have to give. There are no one size fits all versions of education because no two students are alike. By focusing on growth and individual achievements, each student can feel successful. Success breeds success. Being successful can spark a flame inside of a child that has never able to shine before. That flame can ignite a desire to learn. Learning successfully can instill confidence. Confidence can take a student to a higher level of learning and achievement. Confidence can erase the fear of failure that may have held back a student. Sometimes, confidence is the best gift I can leave with a student. Then it’s out of my hands and I can only pray that they will put this new found gift into