JRN+1

=Monday January 9, 2012 = ="Why are we becoming English Teachers?" = = = =From the time I first began playing house, dress-up, grocery store, Barbies--my first play-dates--I always had to be the top dog. It was embedded in me; like my parents had placed a chip in my brain sending messages that I was here to dominate. When thinking about why I went into the education field, I think back to that childhood play specifically. What better way to enhance one of my best characteristics than to control (or attempt to control) a classroom all day? Much to others' dismay, I would like to think that this is not always a bad quality, but being domineering was just something that I was born with. = = = =Though my childhood friends or my parents would place blame on the fact that I also was born with the intrinsic quality of being "bossy" I know it was really because I wanted to mold young minds. So what if I always had to be the leader or the captain of the ship, somebody had to and it was never my fault that they didn't step up; and I know I gave them more than enough chances. Being the principal, teacher, aide, naughty student, and smelly janitor was just another afternoon of playing with my friends for me. It wasn't until my mother and I were later talking about my dictatorial demeanor when I finally realized I may have been "that friend." The friend that other kids only hung out with because I really gave them little opportunity to say no. Though I wouldn't chalk up my caustic nature specifically as to why I went into teaching, but I know this quality catapulted me into wanting to do something great. = =Beyond being a bit on the bratty side, I knew I wanted to make a difference--a true hands on difference. The feeling or the drive, where you just want to do something that has an impact on our world. For me, the idea of being in a classroom educating bright, young minds, is where I can see myself making a difference. I look back on teachers I have had, the good, the bad, and the wonderful, and pull out qualities from all. I want to look at my students and find warmth in each one of their eyes. I want them to feel the passion about life and making a change in this world. I want to be one of those teachers that I have never forgotten. = =Among all of those teachers, all of them were English. Perhaps it was because I was always so intrigued by this subject, but just as the same way I knew I wanted to be a teacher, I knew I wanted to teach English. The creative energy, the poetry, the great novels, the unseen literary heroes--all of these give me shivers. I cannot wait to plaster quotes all of my room from great authors and role models. I cannot wait to assign my first writing prompt, and just off of the top of my head (well, from when I was 13), I know it is going to be "If you could have one thing, item, person, object, in this world that would be at your side forever and always, what would it be?" Everything about my future screams exciting to me starting with the glittery, colorful front door of my classroom smiling "Welcome!" = = = = =