A teacher educates their students to prepare them for the future, and when I began my journey to become a teacher myself that`s all I thought a teacher was. In learning how to become a teacher I realized a teacher means so much more they are not only educator but guides, a safe place, and someone to talk to. Also many teacher go so far out of the way to make sure each and every single student is not only ok but is learning the things they need for a successful future. That leaves me with a question, what kind of teacher do I want to be?

As a student I didn't feel I had a safe space at school or at home, what changed that for me was a teacher. When my teacher noticed I felt uncomfortable in my environment they paid close attention to me and tried their best to make me feel included in the class. This was a game changer for me I felt more secure in school and it became my favorite place to go. I also struggled using my voice at school about things that really bothered me, my art teacher gave me another way to use my voice in pictures rather than words. These teachers shaped me into the person I am today and I am thankful for everything they gave me. These teachers helped me realize who I want to be as an educator, I want to do more than teach what I am assigned. I want to help my students find a way they can use their voices to inspire a positive change and that they have more power than they believe.

I want to engage my students by constantly growing and changing to fit my teaching to the way they learn. All students are not the same, in saying so would be mistake number one. Every student is different and receives knowledge in different ways and in teaching one specific way would be a failure on the part of the teacher. As students grow and change so should the teacher. As a teacher, there needs to be an understanding that these kids come from different backgrounds and have many personalities and there for many different needs.

As I grow in teaching my philosophy will grow with me, I have hope that I will be able to not only give my students what they need for success but I hope to be a safe place, a parental figure if needed, a listener and overall educate them to have a voice that inspires change.