Why are you here?

Good question. I tried everything not to be here. My mom graduated from the education program when I was 12. At that point I had decided that I would love to follow her footsteps and become a teacher someday. But as the years went by, so did that idea. I watched teachers and observed their lifestyles, I was amazed that they were content with what they were doing. They were ok working long hours for nothing and teaching kids that showed little to no respect. They also seemed, to me, to be not achieving much because they were trying to help their students either become something or behave long enough to get through the year. So, I changed my mind over and over again as to what I wanted to do. I went from wanting to be a Zoologist to wanting to be a mechanic. I skipped that profession and went straight to nursing, then to political science and anything else that I could think of to avoid being a teacher. But alas, it is my calling. When I finally rounded back to the teaching idea, after a LONG detour, I discovered that teaching was and is in my blood. I see it so clearly. Students are the focal point. They are the ones that need the opportunity to succeed. I have had teachers that have hindered my learning and have caused gaps in my education that have cost me years of cleaning up. But I have also had those teachers, my mom in particular, who have strengthened me as an individual and who saw me for me and what I could accomplish. For those, I am standing up to this calling. I am wanting to help individuals of all groups.

What motivates you?

The challenge of changing is what motivates me. I like figuring out new ideas that will help me improve and gain more knowledge.

Why do you succeed?

That is an interesting question. The question should be, do I feel like I succeed? I use to always feel as though I never succeeded in anything that I did. And in many ways I still do. I work hard at all that I am asked to do and I constantly try to rise above the norm. But many times I feel as though I fall short and therefore, in the end, for the most part, I do not succeed.

Why do you fail?

I fail because I believe that I cannot succeed. It is because I do not measure up to my own expectations and in result it effects all that I do.

How do you need to change you perspective and/or motivations in order to succeed in the elementary education program and become a GREAT!!! teacher?

I first off, I need to see the goal of becoming a GREAT teacher as something that is achievable. Then, I need to believe in the ability that I have rather than the ability that others wished I had. Meaning, there are so many opinions on what makes a GREAT teacher, that the goal seems almost impossible. And in that goal that is set by others, when it is not reached, then that is when you don't succeed. So, since I wish to succeed, then I need to shoot for the goal that will make myself pleased with as I strive to reach it through the years of teaching the await me.