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More About Me... Throughout my years in education, I have developed a strong desire to help all students maximize their potential. I like to think of myself as a positive role model for all students, and it is my hope that I can have a lasting positive impact on every student I get the privilege of meeting. My aspiration to work with children developed shortly after high school, when I was at the University of Washington working towards a degree in History. I was given the amazing opportunity to coach the men’s basketball team at Nathan Hale High School during a fall tournament. Helping these young student athletes develop skills like teamwork, respect, and determination was something that I felt really proud about, and it inspired me to further pursue opportunities to work with youth. I sought out various employment opportunities after college and was lucky enough to get a job as a paraeducator at Einstein Middle School. Here I was able to work with young students who were struggling both socially and academically at the school. This really appealed to me, as I was given the chance to tutor students who were in drastic need of help. Being able to see my students raise their grades and begin to improve really felt rewarding to me as an educator. It was during this time that I also began to consider graduate programs to further learn about the field of education. I decided on UW-Bothell’s M.ed. program and I was extremely pleased when I found out I was accepted. As I took classes at UW-Bothell, I also began working for a mentoring and advising program based out of Roosevelt High School. It was here that I really learned a lot about what it takes to become a successful educator. Through this program, I was able to work one-on-one with struggling students, helping them get back on track academically. These were students who were bright, but for many differing reasons, were having trouble making the adjustment from middle to high school. It was during this time that I learned the importance of strong and positive relationships. It is much easier to motivate and “reach” students who trust you and who know that you care, than those that do not. I am now student teaching social studies at Mariner High School and love it. It is such an amazing experience to be able to work in a setting knowing that I am making a difference in the lives of students who really need it. I am constantly learning and developing new techniques and methods to make me a better teacher. I have also begun working towards a Special Education endorsement with the hope that it will help make me a better educator. It is my belief that all students are capable learners and I want each child to have a fair and equal chance at reaching their academic goals. |
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