Education is the mentoring of our youth. A single teacher can leave such a profound impact on a student that it changes their outlook on life. Teachers can help you see the importance of the past, present, and future. They can make learning a joy or a bore. Teachers have the power to shape the rising generation, for good or for worse. I have had my share of teachers who have impacted me. First, my 6th-grade teacher, Mrs. Ahlstrom. I took advanced learning in my 6th-grade year and have never regretted it. Mrs. Ahlstrom put the story in history; she made it come to life for me. In previous years history had been my most hated subject; we would read boring texts, answer boring questions, and never do anything exciting. Although, once I got into Mrs. Ahlstom's class, everything changed. I still remember the units we did: Ancient Egypt, Rome, and Greece. We mummified fish, participated in the first Olympics, and had a Greek feast in our classroom. I learned to love learning in 6th grade. Second, my Handbell choir director, Mrs. Smith. When I came hoping to audition for a choir class instead, Mrs. Smith asked if I would want to join her handbell class, I agreed and have never looked back. Little did I know that joining this class would require a better music reading ability, strong arms to load and unload all our equipment, and a smile to be worn in all our concerts. Mrs. Smith would take the time to talk with each of her students personally, especially if they were struggling. I remember not understanding a certain rhythm in one of our songs. Mrs. Smith pulled up her chair next to my table and helped me until I got it down perfectly. Sometimes it was hard work, but Mrs. Smith would never let us give up. I learned the importance of dedication in handbells. Lastly, my 11th-grade English teacher, Mrs. McArthur. At the end of the year in 3rd grade, our teacher passed our awards specific to each of her students. If I were to hand out awards to each of my teachers, Mrs. McArthur would receive "most passionate." When I first met Mrs. McArthur, I could feel the love for me, her other students, and her job, exuding off of her. No matter what we were learning, she would be passionate about what she taught. When we shared, she'd express considerable amounts of admiration for all our work. I learned to find joy in all things in 11th grade. I have been shaped and molded by all my teachers. Some have shaved off layers of doubt and worry, while others have added a design of hard work and better spelling. Whatever I do with my life, who I am will always be thanks to the teachers I have learned from and the mentors I have had. This is why it is crucial to educate and mentor youth. We will one day rely on them to protect our rights, fight for our freedoms, and even check us out at the grocery store.

When I was in kindergarten my dream job was to be a kindergarten teacher. In first grade, it changed to being a first-grade teacher, and in second grade my dream job was a second-grade teacher. The same pattern followed me all the way through 7th grade when I realized that I didn’t want to teach teenagers. As soon as I got to high school I started working towards this dream I had, I took honors-level classes to help me prepare for college coursework. I took all three Teaching as a Profession classes that were offered at my school and interned in a 5th-grade classroom for a semester during my Junior year. This year I interned in a 3rd-grade classroom. During my third day there, a girl came up to me crying because she didn’t know how to do the math. I knelt down by her desk and taught her one on one. After she started to get it, I moved on to help other students. At the end of the day, the same girl came running up to me with a huge smile and gave me the biggest hug she could. At that moment, with my heart ready to burst, I knew I had chosen the right career. I was that little girl years ago, and so many teachers have changed my life. I want to do the same for other children. I want to change lives. A good teacher can impact a student's life forever. I don’t just want to teach for a living, I want to help students see the good in themselves.

When I was in kindergarten my dream career was to be a kindergarten teacher. In first grade, it changed to being a first-grade teacher, and in second grade my dream career was a second-grade teacher. The same pattern followed me all the way through 7th grade when I realized that I didn’t want to teach teenagers. As soon as I got to high school I started working towards this dream I had, making sacrifices to my sleep, I took honors-level classes to help me prepare for college coursework. I took all three Teaching as a Profession classes that were offered at my school and interned in a 5th-grade classroom for a semester during my Junior year. The first day, I felt like a whole swarm of butterflies was loose in my stomach, and my throat was dry and scratchy. As the day went on, however, the kids helped me to exchange the butterflies for a happy burning in my chest. At first, I watched and learned how the teacher ran her classroom, however, I quickly took over teaching during the time I was there. Near the beginning of the semester, the students started a science experiment on what plants need to grow, and I helped them all plant green onions. We set those saplings on the windowsill and by the end of the semester they had all grown quite a lot. Watching myself grow as a teacher right alongside the plants is something I will always remember. This year I interned in a 3rd-grade classroom. During my third day there, a girl came up to me crying because she didn’t know how to do the math. I knelt down by her desk and taught her one on one. After she started to get it, I moved on to help other students. At the end of the day, the same girl came running up to me with a huge smile and gave me the biggest hug she could. At that moment, with my heart ready to burst, I knew I had chosen the right career. I was that little girl years ago, and so many teachers have changed my life. I want to do the same for other children. I want to change lives. When I was younger I was given this gift. This beautiful amazing gift that I loved so much, and was and am so thankful for. The gift that I was given so many years ago was the ability to see the best in everyone. In family, in friends, in strangers. This is my why. This is why I want to be a teacher, this is why I want to study education in college, and this is why I took teaching classes. Because I want to help others see the best in themselves, I love my teacher's favorite quote, “the realization of a student's potential is a beautiful thing.” The moment I read that on my first day in class, it struck a nerve within me. I want to help others realize their potential because we all possess potential. There is always potential, there is always a story, and there is always a why.

Torn in Two My birth was a happy miracle It shouldn’t have happened or so they said But still, I came into this world With important thoughts in my head I was told my hopes and dreams would die That it was fraught to make them new But I ignored their shaking heads For I had plans to make them true First among the dreams was freedom For every man that graced my shores It took some time but was achieved Freedom was mine and freedom was yours The next one of my dreams was great Making democracy in this land Then justice was served here at last I felt that everything had gone to plan I soon dreamed of power To make me greater than those before It too took time but was soon mine Because of fighting in some wars I was thought to be the greatest The strongest, bravest, wisest one Even still at my young age I thought that all my dreams were won At my highest peak, there was a storm I thought that it would soon be over Quickly I discovered the truth And then I became a reckless rover Should I stay or should I go That seemed to be the question asked I thought that I could wait it out Until this horror show had passed But my soul was ripped in two There are two sides to every story On the one, I should have stayed And finally captured my weak quarry On the other, I should leave Never to go back again Some thought that we were much too weak Foolhardy and fairly vain And so what could have been my triumph Became my lowest low thus far Clothed in nothing but my first 13 stripes and 50 stars.