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Joseph Smith

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Bio

Hello to all! My name is Joseph Smith and I am a junior at Assumption University studying Secondary Education with a concentration in English. I am from Boston, MA and went to Boston Latin School. Throughout my life I have had many passions, and some have truly stayed strong throughout my life. One of them has been education, which has shaped my life in numerous ways and allowed me to see the path that I want to pursue. Coming from a family of all teachers, I know the importance of education and the benefits that it can have for students as they grow into adulthood. My other passion is boxing. Growing up. my father owned and operated a boxing gym in Boston, Gentlemen's Gym. It was a non-profit gym, free of charge for anyone who wanted to join. They gave many kids and teens in the inner city of Boston a chance to learn how to protect themselves and understand the value of hard work. Unfortunately, my father passed away when I was young, but the love for boxing that he passed down to me has stood by my side, and I boxed throughout my time in highschool. My third, and arguably most important passion has been my family. My family on my Mother's side comes from a small town in Italy, Fontana Rosa, just east of Naples. They Immigrated here in 1970 and brought plenty of traditions with them, the most prominent being a focus on family. Growing up, I have truly learned and embraced the importance of family and tradition. Further, I have always thought of my family as heros and have looked to them as role models as I have navigated early adulthood.

Education

Assumption College

Bachelor's degree program
2021 - 2025
  • Majors:
    • Education, General
  • Minors:
    • English Language and Literature, General

Miscellaneous

  • Desired degree level:

    Master's degree program

  • Graduate schools of interest:

  • Transfer schools of interest:

  • Majors of interest:

  • Not planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      Education

    • Dream career goals:

    • Teacher/Coordinator

      Assumption Unviversity
      2022 – 2022

    Sports

    Boxing

    Club
    2017 – 20214 years

    Public services

    • Volunteering

      Habitat for Humanity — Volunteer
      2022 – Present

    Future Interests

    Advocacy

    Volunteering

    Rita A. Clark Future Educator Award
    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.
    Selma Luna Memorial Scholarship
    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.