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Jerricka Thompson Corrected by: Dillon Dwyer

Professor Fiegen
Foundations of American Literature
4/22/15
Why I want to be a Teacher
Growing up, I was never the child who had a dream of what they
wanted to become when they were older. One day, towards the end of my
first semester of my senior year, one of my library aid teachers asked me
what I thought about becoming a teacher. I went home that day and
considered what she had asked me, and decided to give it a shot. Because of
her, I am now attending Dakota State University and planning to graduate
the fall of 2017.
My library aid teacher was a huge reason why I started to believe that I
might just make a good teacher. After talking to her, I went to my high school
counselor to figure out a way that I could get into a classroom. We decided
that I should intern in a 2nd grade classroom for Mrs. Balogh. That was one of
the best decisions of my life. The time I spent in the 2nd grade classroom
absolutely sold me on why I wanted to become a teacher.
I am so grateful for Mrs. Balogh and my library aid teacher, because
without them I would not be where I am today. Another influence on my
decision to be a teacher was Mrs. Macziewski and my experience tutoring in
her 4th grade classroom this past semester. She has taught me so much, and

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I could not be more grateful. Because of her, I am gaining a better
understanding of what my duties will be as an educator. By allowing me
teaching time in her classroom, she has taught me so much: how to correct
papers, how to handle students, and the ways that I can keep my students
parents involved. I like the feeling that I receive when a student grasps a
concept and gets excited about learning. One thing that I might dislike about
teaching is that parents can sometimes be difficult. I hope that I can develop
strong communication skills so that all of my students parents will feel
involved and can see their children grow not only in academics but as a
person as well. This year, I also had the opportunity to become a substitute
teacher for the Madison Elementary School, and this opportunity proved to
me that I am in the right major.
As an educator, I hope to do everything possible to have a welcoming
classroom environment for all of my students. I believe that this will help
students feel comfortable and help them succeed in my classroom. I also
believe that individual students have different learning styles. I will need to
get to know my students, and learn the best possible ways to approach them
while teaching. I truly believe that every student deserves the right to
receive a proper education. I hope that I can give this to each and every
student in my classroom. I will be a role model for my students, because I
believe that they will learn best if they can see how certain tasks should be
done. I will try and keep abreast of new research and the latest information
in the profession, and never be afraid to ask for help. Whether it is from

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another teacher, parent, or administrator, I will always be willing to ask for
their advice if something is not working well in my classroom. I think that this
is the best way to prevent becoming overwhelmed and burnt out. In life,
everyone needs help at some time, and I hope to also show my students that
they should not be afraid to ask for help when needed. I am most
comfortable with the essentialism philosophy and plan to use that in my
classroom.
After all of my experiences, I am determined to make my dream come
true. Now that I have a clear understanding of my options, I know that
becoming a teacher is the best option for me.