When I first started my college career as an English Education Major, I doubted myself. What if I do not make a lot of money? What if the kids hate me? What if they do not learn anything from me? Is there a more glamorous job for me? What if I chose this major, simply because it was all I have ever known? I was scared and I asked myself a million questions. The first semester of college is a huge and extremely difficult transition period. I had never been in a worse place mentally at that time, and I was not sure if I was ready to get a college degree or what to get it in.
Fast forward to my third year of college, and amidst a national pandemic, I have learned a few things about myself since my freshman year of college. One of those things was that I had chosen the correct major for myself, but how did I know I was meant to be an Education Major?
I had to start from the beginning, I love to read and write. I always excelled in English class as a student, but it was more than that. Outside of the classroom, I spent my free time reading anything that interested me from historical fiction to true crime, to poetry. I also did very well writing essays, and soon learned I could create other things as well. Writing helped me make sense of the world around me and also helped me mentally. I knew I wanted to do these two things for the rest of my life.
Looking back, I began to think of my childhood. I read and wrote a lot then too. As a kid, I wanted to be many different things when I grew up, from a vet to a hairdresser, to a trashman. I did not have a dream job. I did remember playing school with my siblings. I would always be the teacher. Maybe it was because I was the oldest of three and I had more school experience than my brother and sister. Maybe it was because I had instincts to teach.
Throughout my kindergarten to high school career, I always enjoyed learning. I went to the local public school, which is now one of the top schools in the state. I had a great experience with school. I learned a lot in many different aspects of life because I grew up in the school system. At times I had difficulties. I was shy and insecure, which I now attribute to anxiety and some trauma, and I wish that those experiences could be negated from my life. I thought there was nothing I could do now but to learn from them. That’s when I realized there was something I could do. I could become a teacher. I could give my future students amazing experiences within the school, all while making improvements for students’ mental health. I do plan to eventually become a guidance counselor as well, but I wanted to start within the classroom.
I started taking education and English course to attain my degree. I realized that I am a lifelong learner and loved being a part of the learning environment. I know that I chose the correct major because as a future teacher, I get to discuss and learn about our world constantly. Ultimately, education lets me work with people, specifically future generations, in hopes to make the world a better place and inspire others to do so as well.