"Ms. Maddie, I can't do it, I'm not smart enough," said a kindergartner to me as we were practicing creating tally marks with popsicle sticks on the carpet. Sadly I hear this said to me too many times during my day. I know full well that with the right mindset my students can do anything. It is not about being smart or being stupid, it is not about being poor or being rich, it is about having the passion to learn and explore how the world around us works, and knowing that when we make mistakes we learn the most. This is what I have been trying to instill in my students since the beginning of the school year as every student in my class needs to believe that they are capable of learning and growing from the mistake that they make and the explorations that they set forth on. It is in this way that I find that the only carrier for me is to help others realize that they are capable of anything. The way that I can best do this is by being a teacher. Being a teacher means being able to differentiate experiences for every child based on their needs. It means being culturally responsive and using all of the professional development accrued during the study of the field. But most importantly it means helping my students find the passion to learn and help them want to explore their world. I want to be a part of all of these experiences and show my students that it is fun to learn. I have always worked with children, even before I started my journey to become a teacher. I have always known it is something that I have wanted to do. I am passionate because I know that not only does teaching help me improve as a person but it also has the potential to completely change the outlook a child has on life and to give them the tools they need to be successful. This is the greatest reward I can think of. I am giving back to my community and its effect can span generations and help more then just the student in my classroom. Teaching itself is a passionate carrier, I can think of numerous people who have not put in the work and have let the stress of the job take over them. You can not possibly be a teacher without having the passion to teach and the passion to learn with your students. I want to continue my professional development and learn with my students, showing the world what being a teacher actually means.