Teachers make a difference. I look back on the many teachers
I had during my elementary and secondary education, I have numerous examples of
men and women who had an impact on me and still has an impact today. Because of
them, I always considered teaching as a career. I began college with the goal
of becoming a teacher. Sometimes I wished I had stayed on that course.
Regardless, if I could be a teacher now, I would love to teach of one of these
subjects: history, literature or a subject I’ll call life hacks.
The subject I would love to reach is history in particular
US or European history. I love history. To me, it’s more than just dates and
important events. It’s the stories of the everyday people who lived through
these events. It’s learning about these ordinary people who stood up and did
extraordinary things to better their future and our world. It is also a lesson
of what not to do. To learn from the mistakes of others and the grievous
injustices done to others because of someone in power. My junior year US
history teacher, Mr. Beck, was the one who helped me see past the dates. To
understand, as much as I could, what they were thinking, their reasons for
doing what they did and why what they did was wrong or right. It is one of the
reasons I enjoy a well written historical novel. A story which can transport
you to another time and place and give you a glimpse of a time long gone and
maybe show us what we are still doing wrong. It is in high school and college
history classes that I learned that many facts I learned as a child about US
history or even world history were lies, fabrications to boost a figure’s
reputation or other motives. To learn the truth about history and past that on
to others is a great task, one I think I would enjoy.
Another subject I would love to teach, and probably comes as
no surprise to those who know me, is literature. I love reading. I love
analyzing the stories for its possible symbolisms and morals. Literature
changes the reader who sees a world from another’s perspective. A well written
story will impact a reader for the rest of his or her life. Although I’ve been
reading since I was a child, I didn’t really become the avid reader that I am
today until middle school when my seventh grade English class read The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. A book
that is required reading for many American students, it is a book that I still
remember the impact of the events. It is a book which inspired me to read Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell and
I did. My teacher was so impressed that I read the book on my own that with
gave me an award for that quarter, an award I still have. Literature is also
ties in with history and I can see the two subjects being used together in
conjunction. I also love that literature can speak to one reader in one way and
speak to another reader in another. It can be an interesting discussion when
you find evidence for both perspectives. Is one right? Is the other wrong? Or
can both perspectives be correct?
A third subject I would love to teach is life hacks. I
remember as a freshman I took a class which taught me how to balance a
checkbook, write a check and create a budget. However, it did not teach me the
basics and importance of credit. I learned the lesson too late. I would
advocate this class be taught to juniors and seniors who would be using the
skills a lot sooner than freshmen. I would also teach how to write a grocery
list, to shop smart by comparing prices per unit rather than falling for the
marketing ploys that stores use to entice shoppers to buy what they don’t
necessarily need or really aren’t saving them money. For example, Target often
has items on sale in which when you buy a certain amount, you can receive a $5
gift card and the majority of the time a $5 gift card isn’t a deal. Essentially,
teaching young adults to be informed and attentive consumer. Other topics would
include simple home repairs that would save a call to a repairman or plumber.
Some are thinking would this be a home economics class. Sure topics like cooking
and sewing would be included. I find it amazing how much we don’t know as enter
adulthood and we’re expected to know. We’re expected to know how to balance our
checkbook, be responsibly use credit and take care of our homes. How much time
and money could we save when we have ways to do certain tasks ourselves?
In conclusion, teachers are very important. It is why I was
curious who my daughter’s teacher would be in kindergarten for she would be
another layer of the foundation for my daughter’s education and love of
learning. Teachers are passionate about their subjects pass on that passion to
their students. Even though I cannot be in the classroom sharing my passion for
these subjects, I can pass them on to my daughter. To the teachers out there,
you are important to your students, I hope you take your task serious as so
many future generations are counting on you.
