My name is Michael Reed and I am in my Junior standing year. I have been in an out of college for almost 4 years now. Initially after graduating High School in 2018 I went to a community college which I really enjoyed, I graduated with my associates degree in 2021 which was when Covid began to spread. I strongly disliked the idea of online courses mostly due to the fact that tuition remained the same, so I moved out and entered the work force, working several different jobs before Covid ended, and I decided to finish my degree at ODU. My first semester was last year, and I changed my major twice, from History, to Parks Recreation and Tourism, back to History with a teaching certification. Growing up I spent a lot of time reading about history, spending time outdoors, and playing videogames. I was in the Boy Scouts of America, and earned my Eagle Scout award, and in High School I was in the Student Council Administration. 

The type of teacher I want to be is one who provokes thought from his students, not only through queries made in class through lessons but in the conduct of ones behaviour. All of my favorite teachers have been those who I deeply respected for not taking any crap from students, but who obviously took pleasure in their students learning and and developing their minds. I will never forget when in freshman year of high school, my English teacher Mr. Godfrey pulled me aside after I had been made fun of by another student, took a knee to get down on my level, and sternly grabbed my shoulders and told me to never change, it was a moment that even today I think about. It was an act that was not tied to academia, to passing a test or learning a subject, but one fueled by what seemed like a genuine attempt to help a student develop mentally. He was also incredibly passionate about his subject to the point of where many of the students would make fun of him, and even I at the time had made a couple jokes about his intensity! However as the years progressed and my mind along with it, I really came to respect him as not only a great teacher but a great person, which I think was instrumental in my philosophy of what it means to be a good teacher. Out of all my teachers I remember his lessons and stories the most. This is the type of teacher that I want to become. I want have a classroom centered aroung group projects, and discussions. I believe that this is the most effective way of running a classroom as it is not too taxing on oneself and provides enough room for instruction yet gives students great oppurtunities to have their ideas challenged by different perspectives and ideas.