I cannot name a single specific reason I decided to get a degree in education. I don't have that one 'magic' teacher that I credit for my inspiration. I did not have an extremely great or extremely miserable school experience. Nobody in my family is in education. So, why?
I like to help people. I tutored younger students in high school, and I enjoyed the reactions when light-bulb moments happened. I took it almost personally when those moments did not happen. I also enjoy having a specialization in a certain area (math for me) that allows me to aid in others' understanding. With those factors, education made sense.
I am currently Student Teaching at Mabel Elementary in Zionville. I have 6th, 7th, and 8th graders in math. My students range the gamut from happy-go-lucky to the typical moody teenager. They also say some of the funniest things I have ever heard, in addition to having some of the saddest stories that I couldn't imagine. I'm going to miss my kids (and yes, for some unknown reason I have been referring to them almost constantly as 'my kids,' and would not change that at all) when I am in Mexico, and I am sure I'll be taking some time to visit them when I get back.
I chose to apply for International Student Teaching because I wanted to expand my personal experiences before beginning a career. I also felt that as an educator in an area in which Hispanics make up the fastest-growing minority, I was ethically bound to learn as much as I could about a culture I would be no doubt interacting with. I think that I will learn a good deal about language and its effects on day-to-day life, as well as non-verbal forms of communication. Also, I hope to learn about gender interactions and certain view-points that may differ from the typical 'American' idea.
