College Major Essay

Kaycie LeBlanc
Mary McKeough
English 101- 30
November 1, 2010
Word count: 942
Just Who I Want to Be
Mother Teresa stated, “Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are endless.” It was those kind words that I remember from each individual teacher I had growing up. I remember spending countless hours learning with different techniques from different teachers. I’ll never forget Mrs. Marie Simcoe, for she was that kind voice echoing endlessly. She was my kindergarten teacher. I remember always wanting to help her and to be just like her. She was kind hearted and soft spoken. She taught with care and did everything she could to get her students to understand without a word of frustration.
Growing up I would spend hours upon hours teaching my teddy bears and baby dolls in my playroom or as I saw it, my own classroom. I would fuss at them for whispering and would teach them to write each letter on my small chalkboard. As I advanced through school so did my teddy bears and baby dolls. I eventually moved on to playing “School” with my friends. We’d all fight as to who would be the teacher and I’d get very upset when it wasn’t me.
When I started college, I had no idea what direction I wanted to go. There were so many possibilities: business, the arts, nursing, etc. All I knew was that I wanted to enjoy my career. I didn’t want to fight to get up every morning in order to make myself go to work. I finally realized where my heart was set when I began working at a summer camp in 2008. I worked with third grade and loved every moment of it. I have worked with different age groups over the last few years and have come to realize that I love working with children. This is how I figured out what I wanted to do.
Teachers play a large role in a child’s life. They are with this child roughly ten months of a year and tend to see them from time to time there after. After taking the MBTI, my results state that my personality would be great for a teaching position. I now know I am headed in the right direction. This is why I’ve decided to go into elementary education. I hope to work with the third grade age group or maybe even older. I have more experience with these age groups and seem to enjoy them more than the younger. I am currently in school to achieve getting my degree and license and am slowly getting closer each day.
In order to become an elementary teacher there are certain classes that have to be taken. I have to take my basic education classes such as English 101 and 102 along with Math 101/110 and 202. I also have a few History classes that have to be achieved before I can really get into my career’s field of classes. Once I pass my basic education classes with a C or better, I can enter the world of learning to teach. The classes I’ll be taking then will be more precise as to what or how I’ll be teaching once I begin my career. These classes consist of many different courses. They will give me methods of learning that I’ll learn to work with. I’ll also be taking basic subject classes so that I can teach these subjects with ease. Not only are these courses required to receive a degree in teaching, but I also have tests administered by the state that I must pass to receive my certification or license.
The state administered tests are known as Praxis Exams. There are two that I must pass in order to receive my license to teach in Louisiana. Since I plan on teaching in Alabama, I have to follow their requirements to receive my license. I only have to take Praxis I which is a test testing my reading, writing, and math skills. Though I am not required to take Praxis II, it tests the principles of learning and teaching and I plan on taking it.
I am currently attending Baton Rouge Community College as a Liberal Arts student with a concentration in teaching. I plan on finishing school here at BRCC to get my Associate’s Degree. Once I receive this degree, I hope to transfer to Louisiana State University and finish two more years in order to earn my Bachelor’s Degree. Learning is a part of every child’s life and I hope to touch the many lives that I know my kindergarten teacher touched. I want to be that kind voice saying, “its okay,” when a student doesn’t quite understand or fell and scraped their knee. I have a heart of gold and can’t wait to touch the lives of these small children with their big curious eyes. I know I’ve chosen the right road for my career and I am more than anxious to drive down it!

Bibliography
“Ability Inventory Results.” ACT DISCOVER. Web. 30 September 2010.
“Curriculum in Elementary Grades Education.” LSU GENERAL CATALOG 2010-2011. Web. 22 October 2010.
Garner, Harold. “Eight Styles of Learning.” 2010. Handout.
Hammer, Allen L. “Extraverted Intuition with Feeling.” Introduction to Type and Careers. Mountain View, CA; CPP Inc., 1993.
“Interest Inventory Results.” ACT DISCOVER. Web. 30 September 2010.
“Inventories Summary.” ACT DISCOVER. Web. 1 November 2010.
Myers, Peter B. and Katharine D. Myere. “MBTI Form M Report Form.” Mountain View, CA; CPP Inc., 1998.
“Occupation Summary.” ACT DISCOVER. Web. 1 November 2010.
“Values Inventory Results.” ACT DISCOVER. Web. 30 September 2010.

Bibliography: “Ability Inventory Results.” ACT DISCOVER. Web. 30 September 2010. “Curriculum in Elementary Grades Education.” LSU GENERAL CATALOG 2010-2011. Web. 22 October 2010. Garner, Harold. “Eight Styles of Learning.” 2010. Handout. Hammer, Allen L. “Extraverted Intuition with Feeling.” Introduction to Type and Careers. Mountain View, CA; CPP Inc., 1993. “Interest Inventory Results.” ACT DISCOVER. Web. 30 September 2010. “Inventories Summary.” ACT DISCOVER. Web. 1 November 2010. Myers, Peter B. and Katharine D. Myere. “MBTI Form M Report Form.” Mountain View, CA; CPP Inc., 1998. “Occupation Summary.” ACT DISCOVER. Web. 1 November 2010. “Values Inventory Results.” ACT DISCOVER. Web. 30 September 2010.