I was ten years old in my fourth-grade classroom. I had just been embarrassed by my teacher for not knowing a math problem that she had written on the board. She exclaimed to me, as well as the whole class, "I will keep you back if you cannot answer this problem." As tears welled up in my eyes and my face turned red with shame, I knew I would always remember this moment. This experience in my fourth-grade classroom would always be an example of what a teacher should not be. After the moment passed, and the class moved on to another problem, I replayed in my mind what had happened. In the coming days and months, I thought of how I would have handled that situation if I were in her place. I thought, if I were her, I would never embarrass students and instead offer to help them work through the problem. If I were her, I would make sure that my classroom was a welcoming environment- one where mistakes were not shamed but helped. As the years went by, that same thought process stuck with me. For any bad teacher that I experienced, I would think of how I would hypothetically teach their classroom. For most teachers, my ideas would lead to a few common themes. One, I would teach my class with respect for my students and ensure that they are not scared to make mistakes in my class or fear being wrong, for I would never embarrass them. Second, I would make sure that my classroom had plenty of decor and seem welcoming to anyone walking in. This meant putting encouraging posters on the wall, having a space to showcase exceptional student work, or having a lot of pictures that make the classroom a fun atmosphere. Third, and most importantly, I would make my classroom one where students can end the year having learned not just academics, but life lessons as well. I would hope that my classroom would be one where true learning and influence happen. As my journey in education has gone on, those ideas have inspired me to want to become a teacher, as I have learned the importance that an educator can have in a student's life. Given that a teacher is a significant character in a student's childhood and teenage years, using your time to influence the students positively can truly change their life. In my opinion, one can do this most effectively in high school. Further, I believe that one can learn a lot about not just academics, but about life from reading and writing. In short, that is how I would leave a positive impact in education, by influencing my students in a positive way through literature. By teaching my students about writers like Henry David Thorough, who writes about “Living Deliberately,” I can help them understand the importance of doing what one truly wants to do. By reading with the students works like “The Great Gatsby,” I can show them the lesson that money does not always mean happiness so that students are not inclined to not always follow only riches. Through this style of teaching, I will not only be teaching my students classic stories, but also imparting to them meaningful lessons on life that they can use when our class together has ended. Thanks to my fourth-grade teacher, I will leave a positive impact on education, and I will make it my mission to never make a student feel how I was once treated when I was ten years old in math class.

I have known I wanted to be a teacher for a lot of my life. Oftentimes, when one is asked why they want to pursue their profession, it is difficult to come up with a succinct answer. For me, the answer is best answered with a question. I have always responded with, “Do you remember your favorite teachers from school?” Most times, the answer is a resounding “Yes.” This question has fueled me in my drive to teach. This, at its core, explains why I want to be a teacher: So that students can be inspired by me. In turn, they will hopefully think of me if they are ever asked this question. In short, I plan on inspiring high school youth through education. Further, I want to do this through teaching literature and writing. In addition to my family and friends, I have found advice through great writers such as Shakespeare, Lord Alfred Tennyson, and Micheal Patrick MacDonald. I have had many figures teach these works, but few teachers have truly taught us the meaning of the texts and how we can apply it to our own lives. A lesson and writing that I have always wanted to teach in my classroom are the works of Henry David Thorough, specifically his account of his life living among nature. I want them to be able to truly understand what it means to live life deliberately. I want them to be able to apply the message that they take from this and utilize it long after they leave my classroom. That is the inspiration that I wish to impart to my students. Albert Einstein once famously wrote, “Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one learned in school.” This resonates with me as I am going through my teaching process. In my opinion, it is not the book you teach, but how and in what manner you teach it. Although not every student’s favorite class will be English, I hope the wisdom that I can teach them through literature and the passion in which I conduct my teaching will stick with them for some time.