I always knew I wanted to be a teacher. Sounds cliché, but it is true. My mom worked in an elementary school for my entire childhood and adolescence, so I often spent free time in the empty halls after school. I would peek in on some of my favorite teachers to see if they needed any help or to just ooh and ahh over their classrooms. At home I would often gather up several stuffed animals to “teach” a lesson to. They weren’t the liveliest crowd!
Two Bachelor Degrees and a Master's Degree in English later, I finally realized what I wanted to be when I grew up. Teaching incoming freshman at Boise State was an amazing experience and I met some wonderful students, some I am still in touch with. There was only one problem; each student came in with a sad story about their High School English classes and how unprepared they were for college English and the world in general. It didn’t take long for me to realize where I needed to be and what I needed to be doing. Today’s students are our future and without the proper guidance and tools to propel them, the change we so need will not happen. Writing helps aid in their communication to others, while regular reading improves vocabulary and overall knowledge. Teaching these skills will go far in society today.
