I am going into teaching high school language arts. It has always been my dream to teach, especially to those who face many disadvantages. This is very important to me because of the disadvantages that I have faced in my lifetime. It was a teacher that gave me the self-confidence to make it through the teenage years. It was a teacher that helped me to believe that I am worth something in this world. It was a teacher that gave me the strength to get through an abusive relationship, the loss of a child, and my other hardships. It is that same teacher that carries me when I am too weak to find my way.
I plan to work either in a Title I school, a school on a reservation, an adult education program, or in a school for children with special needs. I have many reasons why I have chosen to focus future on these types of schools. First, Title I schools are those where the highest percentage of students live below the poverty line. I come from a long line of generational poverty and know that these kids need someone to believe in them. Second, a school on a reservation will be a wonderful place for me to work. My family is of the Creek Nation. I can relate to these children and many of the hardships that they face. Third, an adult education program is a field that has drawn my attention. Neither of my parents graduated high school, nor did my husband or my siblings. For a matter of fact, I am the only person in my family who has graduated from high school. It was the adult education programs that my family members attended that gave them the chance for a successful future. Last but certainly not least, I would like to teach at a school for children who have special needs because my son and my uncle both have benefited from such programs. Furthermore, I know that an education is the only thing that cannot be taken from you, but is the one thing that all people should receive and need.
As Matthew 18:10 states, "See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven." It is in my power to show compassion for all of God's children, even the big ones. I feel that educating a person is the key to helping them out of poverty and providing them a successful future. Through education, I can reach out to children who are marginalized and give them the opportunity to be viewed as equals of all mankind, the way that Jesus does us. Unfortunately, it is important to remember, though I cannot mention Christ in the classroom; I can be a good role model by living the life of Christ. In order to deal with the challenges of working as a Christian in the public school system, I must be sure to reach out, not only to the kid that is active in the classroom, but also to those who sit in the corner with their heads down. All of God's children need at least one person on Earth who believes in them. I should strive to become a reflection of Jesus, the great teacher who has reached out to all of us. As a future teacher, it will also be important for me to remember to see the good in each child, and let him know I believe in him. I am an extension of Christ. I am his hands and feet in this world, and I am also a student, who is still learning each and every day.
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