Being one of the oldest cousins, sisters, and granddaughters, I’ve always felt a responsibility to care for and support my younger family members. During family gatherings, I generally engage in caring for infants and entertaining young children, allowing their parents to have some relaxation. Upon entering high school, I assumed the role of a cheer coach for kindergarten girls, and developed a passion for instructing them in cheers and appreciating the affection they showed me. My nurturing demeanor towards children led me to choose a career path at the age of 9 - I have always aspired to be a teacher.
As a high school senior, I had the chance to participate in my school's Tomorrow's Teachers program, which involved observing and assisting an educator in my town's district. This was my chance to act and gain firsthand experience in becoming a teacher. Because I have had this passion for as long as I can remember, when asked what first inspired me, I have trouble coming up with an answer. It was not until this year that I could pinpoint who or what I truly aspire to be. I found genuine inspiration from my mentor, who is a second-grade teacher at the elementary school I used to go to. After spending a week with this woman, I aspired to replicate her in every way. I consistently admire her capacity to manage the room, distinguish between children, juggle various cross-curricular activities, command attention wherever she goes, and her general authoritative demeanor. Every day, I spend additional hours in the building grading papers, developing lesson plans, and generating ideas, absorbing as much information as possible. I am sitting in the classroom feeling astonished and eager about the idea of becoming a teacher like her. During these nine months, I consistently surpassed expectations due to my passion for my work.
One day in early September, the school was evacuated and moved to a different location until the end of the school day due to a suspicious odor in the building. The K-2 teachers and I were placed in a small gymnasium facing complete chaos. Danielle enchanted the entire room with just the power of her voice. She entertained over 100 children by reading a story and engaging them in singing and dancing, effectively deflecting their attention from the unsure circumstances. At this precise moment, I realized I aspired to be like that. I aim to become a teacher who is capable of managing any situation effectively. I want to support my students during difficult times. I aim to develop customized lesson plans tailored to each of my children's unique learning styles to maximize their educational experience. My goal is to excel and reach the highest potential as an educator for my future students. I believe the world would benefit from more individuals like Danielle, and the most effective approach is to mirror her qualities as an educator. Upon graduating high school, I intend to apply the knowledge she has been consistently conveying to me and pursue a degree in elementary education at a college in New Jersey. My enthusiasm for becoming a teacher has evolved from simply desiring to be around children and manage a classroom, to now seeking to understand the various methods through which I can positively impact the lives of young minds. Witnessing the influence I, known as "Miss Bell," have on the second graders I interact with daily has proven to me that I am suitable for this job. My current impact on these children demonstrates the potential for influencing thousands more in the future.