Hi my name is Malaia Jagessar and I am a junior here at Old Dominion University and I plan to graduate with my Bachelors in Elementary Educaton. What made me want to be a teacher is the lack of engagement and involvement that i have received from my past teachers. Seeing this made me want to become a teacher because I believe that there is a lack of passion from some teachers and there are inequaities in the classroom. I'm a firm believer that if you want to change something then be the change. 

Being a person of color, I have first hand experince in knowing that the world is not all sunshine and rainbows. Being a Poc you have to work twice as hard as your counterparts in order to acheive your goals. In the classroom I want to be an example for my students who may not see repreentation of themselves in the classroom. I want to teach my students that no matter what you look like or your background that you can acheive anything you put your mind to. 

When I start teaching, I want to learn how to be able to cater to all my students needs within the classroom. I want to learn to use strategies and procedures that all my students will be receptive too so it can help their learning. I also want to challenge myself to do things that are outside the box, and that help me and my students grow within the classroom 

The teacher that I want to become is the teacher who has a student centered classroom and puts her students growth first. I believe that education should not just be all about passing material down to your students. Education should be more than that. I want to teach my students life skills, and how to navigate the world around them while also teachig them the required material which to me falls into the phiolosophy of social reconstructivism. I want my lessons to appeal to my students and relate to them so it can help them learn better within the classroom. I also want to promote a open and positive classroom, so my students will feel comfortable around me and their peers. In doing all of this, I hope my students will repsect eachother and want to learn with the skills I will teach and provide them. 

Hey Malaia! I connected and related with your experience of being a POC in both the classroom and society so I appreciated  and respected your desire to teach. I also align with essentialism as my teaching philosophy so I wish you the best this year and in your career! - Priel Felton

I definitely agree with your "What I know" section. Ensuring every student is represented somehow is vital to having balance in the classroom. - Charity Harrell