Reflections on The Heart of Teaching!

This picture represents a passionate teacher meeting her students where they are. By engaging with them and interacting with them.

Interest In Education.

My interest in education stemmed from my childhood, when I saw my teachers doing something that captured my eye. Empowering young minds, engaging with students and leaving a lasting imprint on an individual is something that I have known I wanted to do since the third grade! Coming into school every day and sitting in class made me realize that is something I would like to do as a career. As a child, I would come home from school and set up my stuffed animals, print out papers, and draw on my dry erase board, and teach the lesson I learned at school to my stuffed animals. I would act as though I’m grading papers and giving out grades to my “students”. I would come home from school every day, anticipating my afterschool lesson that I would be ready to teach!

Privileges as a PVAMU student.

Knowing that I wanted to be a teacher, I made sure I picked a college that would be beneficial to me for my education and also benefit me for my career once I graduate. So I began applying to colleges and looking for the college that has the best teacher-education program. I started with Texas Southern University, then proceeded to look at Sam Houston, Stephen F. Austin, and the University of Houston. After doing deep research on all these universities, I noticed that the teacher education programs did not fit me. So, that is when I looked into Prairie View A&M University. Once I began my research, I was amazed and also disappointed that I did not look here first. After I saw that the teacher-education program at Prairie View was the program for me, I put in my application immediately because I knew this was the place I wanted to be. I got accepted and started my college career, and I began to notice how privileged I am to be a student here all around. The teacher-education program here has allowed me the opportunity to be a certified teacher as soon as I graduate, so I will be able to start my career fully certified and doing the job I am passionate about. While also being a student here, I am able to begin student teaching and observing teachers as well, so I will be fully equipped and confident when I step into my career.  Being a student at Prairie A&M University comes with so many benefits, especially since it is a historically black university. I have learned the importance of this university and how it has come about to be the illustrious campus it is now. Furthermore, this university has taught me how to embody the importance of being not only an African American educator, but a female African American educator especially in the times that we are living in. This university is equipping me to not only teach the lesson but also past down life skills that will be able to leave a lasting impact on my students.

Background of Teaching History.

My knowledge of teaching originates from my childhood because I have come from a line of teachers. They instilled in me the importance of their jobs and how every student education should be taken seriously, but not only their education but their lives. My family made me realize not every student has the same background and not every student has access to three meals a day, a place to sleep, having access to take showers, and most importantly a loving family. Knowing these things has also pushed me to pursue my passion in teaching, because I have realized I can be the help that the student may need. Education and teaching have been a vital role for making our world go round. Education has kept our history alive for years, but it has also tried to silent the most important history of the world which is black history. Although I will be teaching the subject English, I will always make it a mission to teach the importance of black history. As a student a Prairie View, I slowly began to notice that history is incorporated through any and everything. By me being a future educator I have to make sure I continue to empower my students with the knowledge of history through writing.

My work as a future educator!

After I graduate from Prairie View A&M University I would like to teach English to seventh grade students. My passion for teaching is going to allow my career to excel. I will not only be able to teach my students the importance of English, but I will also be able to empower them and instill the importance of our history into them as well. By incorporating writing topics pertaining to our history. Prairie View will have equipped me to do so, simply because of the classes I take as a teacher-education major. I have been able to do podcast, documentaries, and also being able to learn the importance of digital history. All of these skills and tools that Prairie View has given me will allow me to pass on to my students. So not only will they be great writers, but they will also have skills that they will be able to take with them throughout the rest of their schooling and even bringing these skills into their career. Being an educator in this time is more than just teaching a lesson but reminding students that they have a voice to do or be who they want to be in a world that is constantly trying to change and quiet people down for who they are. I will encourage students to be the change and stand up for what is right while also supporting them even when they are not confident in themselves. Once I graduate from this great university, I will know that I am more than capable to not only teach students but instill in them the power of education and the long history that comes with it especially our black history!