Teachers and students alike are not robots, and the way in which people learn is not uniform. I believe our education system should reflect those ideals. After spending time in education, I can confidently say that I believe the purpose of education is not just the memorization and regurgitation of information, nor is it a one-sided relationship where the teacher knows everything and can learn nothing from the students. The best students are those who learn for a lifetime, and I believe educators are in the best place to continue their education. The best teachers I have had made me feel comfortable asking questions by also asking questions of me, whether that’s trying to know how and who I am or my thoughts on a certain topic.
I also believe that everyone has the right to receive a quality education. Knowledge is something that no one can take away from you once you have it, and that is powerful. Education is more than what goes on within a classroom; it stretches beyond the school building and into the real world. In my eyes, a good educator is someone that uses the curriculum as a guide and goes beyond what’s on paper to inform and empower students. As an educator, I plan on doing life alongside my students and sharing in their successes and their failures. I want them to know that I am there to pick them up and walk with them in their process of growing. I think that the role of a teacher is not just to make sure that students learn what is being taught in class to pass a test, but also to inspire a hunger for knowledge and question asking. I truly believe that that is what turns students into lifelong learners.
I plan on running my classroom in a way that prepares students for what is to come in their life; regularly practicing manners as well as social and emotional awareness. The students of today are the leaders of the future, so it’s in everyone’s interest to build students to be kind, confident, and functional. My goal is to highlight kids’ unique personalities and encourage them to positively contribute to their families, friends, and community.