My area of academic focus stems from two different parts, a love of teaching and an interest in math. Throughout childhood to adulthood students are asked the question, "What are you going to do when you grow up?" Some kids want to be movie stars, NFL players, or musicians and then they changed their mind every year as their interests and perspective on life changed. For as long as I can remember I wanted to be a teacher. I wavered on what age and subject I wanted to teach but now that I am in college I have decided to go into secondary education focusing in math.
In my senior year of high school I did a volunteer teaching experience for a class of sixth graders for a season. I taught them the language of ASL and about another culture. They played games and afterwards received a lesson about teamwork and sportsmanship. They presented and I saw how cohesive they were as a group when some students became nervous and the others wanted to help and show them the next sign. At the end of the season the class signed a Christmas song and one parent came up to me and told me how her girl looked forward to each time I was coming to class and how she was so happy learning the new language and with her progress. That and seeing the children's faces light up throughout my class was a defining part of my life. That is when I knew teaching is really my dream job.
I started out liking math because I was good at it; it felt rewarding to be able to understand it easily and make good grades in math. Then as I started to take harder math classes concepts didn't always come as easily but it was okay because I enjoy a good problem. Math gives me intellectual satisfaction when I can add one concept onto another to solve a problem or when there is a hard problem and it takes work and critical thinking to get the solution. It is an objective field and once I solve the problem I can know that I did it right. As I learn more about math I understand how it connects to the world around us and how important it is to society.
Throughout my time in school and volunteer experience I found out what I love and that is the driving force behind the decision of my major. I have been the personal recipient of great teachers and seen what impact a good teacher can make in a student's life. I know that if I do my dream job right I can inspire youth and lead them into their dream jobs and successful futures. I will be studying and teaching on a subject that I find fascinating the more I learn about it. My area of academic focus is something that I know I am intrigued by and know I can make a difference in my community with it.
In my senior year of high school I did a volunteer teaching experience for a class of sixth graders for a season. I taught them the language of ASL and about another culture. They played games and afterwards received a lesson about teamwork and sportsmanship. They presented and I saw how cohesive they were as a group when some students became nervous and the others wanted to help and show them the next sign. At the end of the season the class signed a Christmas song and one parent came up to me and told me how her girl looked forward to each time I was coming to class and how she was so happy learning the new language and with her progress. That and seeing the children's faces light up throughout my class was a defining part of my life. That is when I knew teaching is really my dream job.
I started out liking math because I was good at it; it felt rewarding to be able to understand it easily and make good grades in math. Then as I started to take harder math classes concepts didn't always come as easily but it was okay because I enjoy a good problem. Math gives me intellectual satisfaction when I can add one concept onto another to solve a problem or when there is a hard problem and it takes work and critical thinking to get the solution. It is an objective field and once I solve the problem I can know that I did it right. As I learn more about math I understand how it connects to the world around us and how important it is to society.
Throughout my time in school and volunteer experience I found out what I love and that is the driving force behind the decision of my major. I have been the personal recipient of great teachers and seen what impact a good teacher can make in a student's life. I know that if I do my dream job right I can inspire youth and lead them into their dream jobs and successful futures. I will be studying and teaching on a subject that I find fascinating the more I learn about it. My area of academic focus is something that I know I am intrigued by and know I can make a difference in my community with it.