As long as I can remember, I have wanted to be a teacher. It was not until I became a teacher that I had to ask myself, why. It always just felt right to me. I love learning and helping others learn. I love working with children and I knew teaching is where these things all combine. Once I started asking why I froze. Loving learning and children did not feel like enough anymore. I started reflecting on my own teachers growing up. Currently, I am a few classes into my master’s degree and I can count on one hand the number of teachers I remember. I do not want that for any of my students. I want to be the teacher I never had, I want to give children a fighting chance, and I never want to stop learning. These are my reasons why!
              I want to be the teacher I never had. I never felt community in the classroom. I was terrified of my teachers and of disappointing them. That is not what I want my students to feel. I want to be a part of their lives and someone they are excited to see every day. I want something to happen on the weekend and the students to be excited to share with their teacher and the class.
              Secondly, I want to give children a fighting chance. We all know everyone is different and to me that means teaching and learning will look different. I want students to not only acknowledge but also celebrate their differences and see these differences as assets.
              Lastly, I think teaching is one of the few professions that never stop learning. Not only through professional development but also through peer collaboration. My coworkers make me want to be a better teacher and a better person. My students push me to be better for them and keep me update on the latest trends. Despite what some people think, math does not change. However, our methods of teaching change and adapt based on research.
              In conclusion, I never asked myself why until I became a teacher. Then I knew exactly why I wanted to continue being a teacher and showing up for my students and coworker. I want to be there for my students, I want to give children a fighting chance, and I never want to stop learning. These are my reasons why!