Why do I want to be a teacher? I believe that teachers are one of the only job opportunities where you can shape the foundation for a single kid or for the generation as a whole. You can ask anyone in this world who their most influential teacher was and they would have an answer immediately. I want to be that teacher to students, I want kids to remember me, whether that is as Mr. T, Mr. Filpansick, or even just Travis Filpansick, I want them to remember me as someone that supported their dreams and aspirations. Ever since I have been thinking about my future career, I have always thought about teaching. Everyone in my family has always said I would make an amazing teacher to any school that would give me an opportunity, and if I was given that opportunity I would make the most out of it and I would do my very best to not disappoint. Throughout my life I have had many people that have influenced my decision to become a teacher. Mr. Thompson from Clio has most definitely been my biggest influencer. He is one of those teachers that people still talk about after they have graduated. You can just tell he has made a long lasting impression on any kid that has stepped foot in his classroom. The day I get compared to Mr. Thompson or I hear comments like I hear about him, I have accomplished my goal in teaching. Another one of my biggest influencers has been Brad Moore, Clio's head baseball coach. During my freshman season Brad was an assistant coach and didn't have a lot of say under our previous head coach. Our previous coach only saw me as a pitcher and only wanted me to pitch and pushed me past my limits. But, Brad always had a vision with me and always believed in me being a big player on both sides of the ball. Brad showed me what it looked like to have hope in a kid, student, and even a player. Brad gave me hope and now I am committed to Delta to go play baseball because of Brad. So, being a teacher is not just a job to me, it is a priority. I want to be that force in students' lives that changes their life for the better. Because of my influencers, I will be the best teacher I could possibly be to my future students. With that being said, I will invest everything I have just to hear “Mr. Filpansick” come out of a student's mouth.