How I Became a Teacher

In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week I thought it would be nice to share the story of how I became a teacher. It all started in second grade with a teacher named Mrs. Kelly Rich.  She was kind, caring, and inspired me to be my best.  That year we were to perform a class play called Little Bunny Sue and each student had to audition for a part in the play.  I wanted a small part somewhere in the back but Mrs. Rich picked me for the lead role.  I hesitated because I wasn't sure I could play such an important role.  She responded with full confidence in my abilities, which in turn gave me confidence to play the part.  From that point on, I decided I wanted to be a teacher just like Mrs. Rich, inspiring kids to be their very best!  I even made my little brothers and all the kids in the neighborhood come over to play 'school' with me throughout my childhood so I could play 'teacher'.  As I got older, my desire to become a teacher only got stronger.

(Miss Rush graduating from nursery school!)

 I had always loved American history.  I thoroughly enjoyed books, movies, and stories that were based on historical events such as the American Girl series.  I always thought it was fascinating to learn what it was like to live in other time periods.  I even saved up my allowance for a year to buy Kirsten, my first, and only (those things aren't cheap!), American Girl doll!!

When I took U.S. History with Mr. Terry Christy during my junior year of high school, I knew there was no turning back...this is what I wanted to do.  Mr. Christy was adored by every student who entered his classroom.  He had such enthusiasm for history and for teaching that you couldn't help but be interested in what he had to say.  In my eyes, he had it all...he loved history and loved to teach; two things that really inspired my future career choice.

 (high school graduation)

So, in the fall of 1999, off to college I went to major in Secondary Education with a concentration in Social Studies (my focus was U.S. History).  Because of the way the curriculum is set up in most colleges, you don't get to do your student teaching until your very last year.  By then, there is really no turning back!  I spent the first semester observing my mentor teacher, Mr. Marc Halsted, and taught a lesson here and there.

Then second semester arrived...time for me to teach full time...all on my own...training wheels off!  Suprisingly, it wasn't scary in front of the class but instead it felt really natural.  The scary part was just how much work it was.  While most of my non-teaching friends were still livin' it up during our last semester of college, I was spending hours at school, then coming home and spending hours reading, grading papers, and trying to come up with fun, engaging lessons.   I had to have a real soul-searching conversation with myself about whether or not I could do this kind of work for the better part of 35 years. Fortunately for me, my mentor teacher told me he thought I was a really talented, promising young teacher and that he really hoped I didn't give up.

(college graduation)

You know how this story ends because you are here reading my blog about teaching!  Although with this career choice comes an incredible amount of work, stress (mentally and emotionally), and responsibility, it also provides me with so much JOY.  My students are so funny and creative and I don't think I can express what it feels like to know that, even in some small way, I have taught someone something they didn't know before or that I played some role in helping them become the people they want to be.  I am one of the lucky ones...I knew from an early age what I was supposed to do with my life and that is TO TEACH.

I've had many, many teachers throughout the years to whom I am eternally grateful.  

Some of these people include, but certainly aren't limited to...

-Mrs. Rich...not only do our names sound alike but you planted that very first seed of the 'teaching' bug inside my brain

-Mrs. Diamond...for teaching me my times-tables

-Mrs. Mountford...for helping me master those darn 5-paragraph essays with which I am now torturing my sophomore students

-Mr. Christy...for showing me that enthusiasm is contagious

-Ms. Carter...for introducing me to my other love, Sociology!

-Mr. Halsted...for showing me the ropes of this business they call teaching

-Professor Nathan Godfried...from whom I learned so much about American history

"Better than a thousand days of diligent study, is one day with a great teacher." ~Chinese Proverb

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!