I have wanted to make a difference in some one's life now for a long time. I didn't care what kind as long as it was a good difference and I think I might have just done it. I have been helping a kid out in reading and writing and I love it. Just the other day he told me "you are a great tutor". I only thought he was saying it because we were just messing around and playing word game so I said thank you and kept going. But everyday he tells me before we leave "you are a great tutor" so I asked him, "What do you like about tutoring?" and he just stood there thinking and I was thinking, he is trying to just come up with something to say, but then he blurts "I like everything. you help me learn." and I just about cried. I was actually helping this kid. I know that is what I am there for but his teacher and mine both say we wont make a big difference for the kids, we are just trying to give them more practice. I know what practice was at that age... busy work. I hated busy work. They are telling us that we are there to give students busy work. I don't think SO! these kids need much more than that! They need understanding and clarity that no one else has the time to give to them.
Through this experience, I know have a deeper understanding of why I chose to be a teacher. I have said I want to help those who others don't but now that I have helped just one kid, I want to keep going and help them all! I know I can't do that, but helping a handful is better than none and I am ok with that. My dream is to teach in a inner city school like Detroit, NYC, or maybe LA. Every time I tell that to someone, the first things out of their mouth is something discouraging towards me or the people of the area and what it does is just give me more motivation to go there. To hear that I would be wasting my time with students who don't care gives me more strength to show any child that someone cares to help them, give them wisdom and maybe let them prove to the rest of the country that they matter too.
I have wanted to teach since 6th grade because of my math and science teacher, Mrs. Moore. I don't know what it was that make me care to be a teacher, but she did it. I want to make an impression on someones life like she has mine. She doesn't know it but she is the reason that I chose my profession. There have been many kids in my life to help confirm that I want to spend my life around teaching student but she was the spark to forest fire inside of me.
I am ready for what ever the world throws at me and I have a dream that is becoming a reality. I don't think I can ask for much more...
