I'm Heaven Smith, a sophomore and Elementary Education Major. At 20 years old I am the yougest and oddball out of 3 boys. I'm even the only Taurus while my brothers are all Scorpios. I grew up as an athletic tomboy between split households. At 8 years old I became a cheerleader, and stuck with that sport until 2020 when my senior season came to a tragic end. Already I have paid childcare experience thanks to a small daycare in downtown Norfolk and the two precious toddlers that I babysit. Growing up the youngest I always wanted to influence someone, or have a younger sibling. As I grew older it manifested in wanting to teach, and influencing the youth has changed into wanting to educate the youth as well. 

As a black woman I have a great understanding of being underestimated. The world tries to chew us up and spit us back out, even in todays age where it's easier than ever to become establishjed in a career. I know that life is confusing and complex, which only increases if you're neurodivergent or outside of the world. Despite this I know how to fight, how hard respect is to gain but easy to keep. I can teach my classmates and future students just how to manage the world even with it weighing on your shoulders or trying to beat you down. I can teach them and help them discover a different kind of strength that will carry them throughout their educational and professional career. I can also teach humility, the ability to admit when you're wrong that takes you further than any confidence could.

As a young student I have a lifetime left of things to learn. I do not know what I do not know, which leaves a lot for me to learn. It's unrealistic to say I want to learn everything there is to learn along with it being incredibly vague. I want to learn what it takes to be a great teacher, one that inspires generations, that's talked about well intol adulthood because the lessons I taught are still relevant or still touch my students. I want to learn about my students, there personalities, what I can do to help them flourish and grow as individuals along with academically in the classroom. I am constantly challenging myself to improve myself and who I am, so as to improve the world around me. I want to be a better dog mom, a better kpop fan, a better musical fan, and a better person overall so that someday in the future I can translate those into my teacher, and create a better future for my students. 

The teacher that I'll become is one for the history books. I feel silly repeating some of my phrases, but I will be one that is thought of well into adulthood. I'll be the teacher that the students that aren't mine feel comfortable approaching me for their issues, or even just for a conversation. I'll be the teacher that encourages the parents to approach me and ask questions about their students are learning or how they're doing. School is not just a place of education, it's a place where students strive to be individuals and start developing their independence. This coincides with the most important things students will learn, that they are unique and deserve to be true to themselves. They will learn this through their experiences, and socialization with their peers but also through encouragement that I and hopefully their other teachers will also provide. As a teacher I will be hopeful and determined. My students will be open to learn and receive even a glimmer of hope that I have for them. My philosophy is progessivism, as these real world problems are deeper than many things schools taught, and are continously growing more severe.