Generations of students come and go, but inspiration is what makes the human race so brilliant. Space exploration, theories, and the latest and greatest iPhone were once ideas that a teacher or mentor of some sort fostered. In my own life, I want to be an educator who pushes students past their limits by allowing opportunities for invention. I don't want them to think outside of the box, I want my students to turn the metaphorical box into a house or a magic school bus. I believe an educator is responsible for creating a new generation of innovative thinkers. Once I graduate college, I want to become a math and science elementary school teacher, likely third, fourth, or fifth grade. I've always gravitated toward subjects relying on logic because the answer is either right or wrong. But in my classroom, the ideas of right and wrong will be challenged. This will be hard to convey in math class, but I plan to give my students many ways to solve a problem; whether it be manipulatives, finger counting, or straight to mental math, I want all students to succeed and grow daily. While teaching science, I want to inspire my students to release their inner "mad scientist". I will always push my students to ask as many questions as possible because that is the way to gain knowledge. In my upcoming teaching career, I truly hope to inspire every young mind in my classroom. I want every student to know that they are loved and cared for, while always pushing them toward greatness. As former NFL coach, Vince Lombardi, once said, "Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence." Strive for excellence, young students.

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” The great Dr. Seuss gives this quote which has created a large impact on my life. I fell in love with reading at an early age; I learned how to read much earlier than my peers and often challenged myself to read everything from billboards to nutrition labels. I am proud to state that I have carried my love of books throughout my early adulthood and can always be seen with the most recent young adult novel on hand. The most recent book that I’ve read that has stuck with me is The Girl Who Smiled Beads by Clemantine Wamariya and Elizabeth Weil. The book explains the tragedy of a young girl who escapes the Rwandan massacre and tells the story of her struggles throughout refugee camps, along with problems of assimilation once she reaches safety in the United States. Wamariya does an amazing job of portraying her perspective of the situation, while also describing how she felt outcast once she reached America. This book has allowed me to partially understand the hurdles that immigrants face when entering our country, and how to better support individuals who have gone through trauma. In The Girl Who Smiled Beads, Wamariya states how many people were insensitive toward the physical and mental stress she had endured; I hope to create a safe space for anybody that I encounter who has gone through some of the struggles that Wamariya did. In the future, I hope to become an elementary school teacher and serve as an outlet for my students who are going through hardships. Now I’m not saying that I’ll be running into students like Wamariya regularly, but I will be the type of teacher that students can talk to if they’re having trouble on assignments or if they’re having problems at home. I’ve always said that I want to be the “mom teacher” that students can come to if they just need to talk to a trusted adult. From what I interpreted, Wamariya just needed someone who could sit and listen, not somebody who tried to solve her problems or compare obstacles. I can change the world by being a proud African-American educator who shows representation to little black girls. I can change the world by being an amazing resource for my students and fellow teachers. I can change the world.

@khalia.imani

I never believed teaching would be for me. As a younger student, I had my mind set on becoming a doctor or a chef, something exciting to occupy my days. That was until I started working as a math tutor to make some extra money a couple of years ago. I knew that I was pretty good at math and figured that an after-school job would help me pay for gas and other extracurricular activities. After educating my first student, my mindset toward teaching had completely changed. I received a rush of dopamine every time a student got that look in their eyes from a “lightbulb moment”. Upon working as a math tutor for only one month, I knew that teaching would be my passion. Throughout my lifetime, I have moved states four times and lived in too many houses to count. I grew up with both of my parents in the military, therefore I’ve never had any lifelong friends, mentors, or counselors. Every time we moved somewhere new, I realized that we would only be there for a maximum of three years; this caused me to stay to myself and never get too close to anyone, because what was the point? It wasn’t until our third move that I found a teacher that really inspired me. Her name was Mrs. Phillips and she had just moved to the area as well, which made my fifth-grade self feel better about being the new kid. Entering her class felt like being enveloped in a warm hug: the lights were comforting, essential oil diffusers dusted the class with a fresh aroma, and she even had the coolest flexible seating options. I knew that year would be the best school year ever because of Mrs. Phillips. Her attitude was soft and understanding, while also continuously pushing us toward our goals and helping us reach our fullest potential. I like to think that the influence of Mrs. Phillips subconsciously made me gravitate toward teaching because I wanted to be that mentor for the next student who didn’t feel like they had a home. Teaching is one of the most important jobs in society; everyone has to have learned something from a teacher! Therefore, as I begin my journey through college, I always want to remember my “why”. When school gets tough, I want to remember Mrs. Phillips and her grace. When I begin student teaching and a student doesn’t respond how the textbook says they should, I want to remember the lightbulb moments and strive for them. Becoming an educator is a greatly rewarding task, and I can’t wait to become a part of this new generation of teachers.