If you had asked little me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I probably would have had many answers for you. I might have said a scientist, veterinarian, counselor, singer,.... The answer changed all the time. But if you had asked me what I did not want to be when I grew up, I always had a ready and consistent answer: teacher. Teaching seemed to me to be the most undesirable job in the world. I didn't have many good teachers until I got to college. I perceived teachers as stressed out, overworked, and uncompassionate. I currently major in Elementary Education at Northwest University.

I first started teaching when I was about twelve. My sister Natalie was three years old and I wanted her to be the smartest kid in preschool. So I began teaching her how to add and subtract with marbles. While she was home-schooled in first grade, I would give her spelling tests and help her out with concepts she was having trouble with. During this time I did not consider teaching as something in my future. But this experience gave me the opportunity as a young girl to put into practice talents I did not realize I had.

In high school I began tutoring part time. I worked with grades ranging from kindergarten to 10th grade in subjects that were just as varied, from reading to social studies to algebra to Spanish. I was shocked to discover that I actually enjoyed teaching and was good at it. Today, I look forward to working with students. I look forward to helping children find their talents, interests, gifts, and help them make discoveries that will open worlds of opportunity.

I would like to teach middle school, but anywhere from 4th-9th grade would be great. The subjects I enjoy the most are US History and English.