Arielle Nelson

Who I Am...

The experiences I've had in schools have contributed a lot to who I am. I've been to a regular Christian private school (K-2nd), Catholic school (2nd-8th), and even public school (9th-12th), so those experiences have broadened my perspective. I loved school when I was in elementary school, but everything came crashing down once I reached middle school. I never really felt like I had a place in middle school because I was one of the weird kids, plus I had ADHD. I also had a few of my teachers treat me and other students with ADHD like we had the plague and put us on our own little island in the back of the classroom, away from everyone else. This didn't help me and made me start to isolate myself. It also didn't help that one of my teachers told all of the students with ADHD that we'd be lucky if we graduated high school with even a 1.0 GPA.

I think what's pushed me towards teaching is the way I've been treated in private school, not just because of my ADHD but also because of my skin color. To always have that feeling in your mind that your teacher is waiting for you to fail. I want to give my students more patience and understanding than I was given, and I want them to leave my class eager to learn more instead of losing all their motivation to learn.

I also want to help other students with ADHD like me and let them know that they are not stupid; instead, they learn differently, and that's completely alright.

What I Know

Different ways to help children with ADHD
Different ways to help children with Anxiety/Depression
How to ask other teachers for help or assistance
How to make my room a safe place for all children
How to break down readings so that everyone can understand them
What it's like to not be taught much about your culture/history (besides slavery and the civil rights movement). Also, having the only class that focuses on African-American history be an elective
What it's like to be labeled the problem child at first glance because you have ADHD and you're a minority student

What I have to learn

I will challenge myself to grow daily by being more open to opinions different from my own. Although we all see the same world, we are not drawing the same conclusions from our experiences, so it's good to hear things from another point of view because it broadens your perspective.

How to be Vocal And Speak out when things aren't done correctly

How to motivate those Who've fallen behind

How to keep Parents in the loop (Even when their kid is not in trouble)

The Teacher I will become

I believe that the purpose of school is to prepare you for whatever's next, whether that be trade school, college, a career, or a job. The most important things that my students will learn are that it's always okay to ask for help and that there's no one-size-fits-all approach for adulthood. We are all called to do different things in life, and college isn't a necessary route for everyone. I will teach them this by helping them find something that they enjoy and searching for jobs that interest them and fulfill their needs. I used to believe that I'd stick to the philosophies of Perennialism and Existentialism. But now that I've looked back upon my childhood and what drives me, I've been moving more toward Perrenialism and Social Reconstructivism to focus on Classic ideas and work to form a better society over time.

Comment Section

Hi Arielle! I think I actually had a class with you in high school, which is kind of crazy. What a small world! But I also struggle with ADHD also, and didn't realize it until I was graduating from high school. You will be a great teacher, and do great things!
Hey! Sorry to hear about your middle school experience. I was NOT a fan of middle school either! So excited to get to know you this semester! -Caroline Monfalcone
Hi Arielle. Right off the bat I love your heading for your page. Your page Is very Inviting with It saying that everyone Is welcome. I like that you know how to help others with anxiety. I suffer from that as well. -Alli M.
I really like your about the author page. I also relate to struggling with ADHD and need to learn how to teach students with ADHD, as well as other similar disabilities. I appreciate your creativity. - Kellie Wiltrout
Your creativity with this page is unmatched. I agree with your purpose of education as well. The purpose is to set up your students for success in their next chapter of life. Also, I struggle with ADHD as well. I struggled all through high school and still do! - Noah Shepherd

Page updated

Report abuse