Theresa Alastuey

December 8, 2014
EDUC 5307
Summative Essay
I have been at Dominican University for almost five years now. Within these four and a
half years, my life has been changed and I have evolved in a remarkable way. Choosing to
pursue a path in teaching was not so much a choice, as something that happened to me. During
my high school years, I volunteered at a local elementary school helping struggling students
develop their reading skills. In addition, I babysat for several family friends around town. I
began to notice during my senior year of high school that I had a talent for working with
children. At any family gatherings, holiday parties, or even just shopping in the bookstore, I
noticed that I was somehow always sitting next to, playing with, or surrounded by children.
Finally, I took this as a sign and, upon entering my freshmen year at Dominican, I switched my
major from Undeclared to Liberal Studies. This was without a doubt, the best choice I have ever
made.
Upon beginning the teaching program at Dominican, I knew that I had made an excellent
choice. I quickly began to build close relationships with many of my professors. I had never felt
more welcomed or supported. Continuing on, I began volunteering in the classroom more and
participating in the required fieldwork hours for the teaching program. My first two placements,
unfortunately, were worrisome and I became discouraged for a brief few months. The mentor
teachers with whom I had been placed were not of the same mindset as I was, and I found myself
continually noticing negatives rather than positives within my fieldwork. Luckily, the professors

and administrators at Dominican assured me that having a different style is not necessarily a bad
thing and that I should continue on.
As I entered into my third year at Dominican, I just arrived back in the United States
from a summer-long trip to Bilbao, Spain. On this trip, I discovered so much of whom I was as a
person as well as whom I wished to become as I finished out my college career. After returning
from this trip, I then decided to not only pursue a career in teaching general education, but to
explore the field of special education as well. I completed my Capstone thesis on the topic of
inclusion in the general education classroom and truly began to realize the immense passion I
have towards working with exceptional learners. My thesis was recognized at the National
Conference for Undergraduate Research as well as awarded an Academic Scholar award at
Dominican. After discovering that I had a passion for learning about students with needs, I
decided to declare a dual degree as well as dual majors to achieve a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal
Studies, a Master of Science in Education and two credentials, one as an Education Specialist
and the other a Multiple Subject. Once again, I found that Dominican University was helping me
to discover many opportunities and fostering my continued character growth. I excelled
academically during my four undergraduate years, but this was not without some hardships and
discouraging moments along the way. Finally, I graduated in May 2014 with Bachelors Degree
and moved onto finish my credentials as well as my Masters Degree as an Education Specialist.
Now, as I am finishing up my weeks of supervised teaching and wrapping up my
credential requirements, I am so thrilled to be able to call myself a teacher within the next
months time. My supervised teaching has provided me with both an incredible as well as a very
challenging experience. I have had a wonderful time getting to know all of the students in each
of my placements. I am finally able to say that my heart truly belongs in the special education

field. Although general education has given me a great experience and I have an incredible love
for my twenty-two kindergarten students, I am constantly catching myself focusing a great deal
more attention on the few students in my class who have more academic, social, and emotional
needs than other students in the class. Looking to the future and seeking out my first job, I know
that Resource is where I want to be. More than that, it is where I am meant to be.
Reflecting upon my experience at Dominican also stirs much thought regarding where I
will be in the future. I am ready to take on a classroom and begin my career. Even more so, I
am ready to make a difference and to discover who I am as a teacher without the influence of
another persons classroom, routines, procedures and tendencies. During my supervised teaching
I have had the pleasure of working with two wonderful directing teachers. I have taken away a
wide breadth of great tactics and tools to use in my own teaching. At the same time however, I
feel myself wishing so much to break out and take control in my own way. I see certain
similarities between myself and other teachers in my program as well as within my fieldwork.
However, I also constantly recognize differences in the way that I approach teaching, learning,
and relationships with my students.
I have a tendency to look at things in a much more laidback, or easygoing manner. This
is not to say that I take topics lightly- especially issues surrounding exceptional learners.
Simultaneously, I truly believe that educators have a strong tendency to remove the fun from
learning. They remove the enjoyment because the field is so driven by standards, tests, and high
expectations. It is not a rare occasion for me to stop instruction, bring students together, and
either play a game, sing a song, do a dance, or just have a conversation about something that is
deeper on a more social or emotional level than pure academic content. While expectations are
necessary and do need to be met, there must be a balance in which students are provided with

genuine experiences and appreciated on an individual basis. I feel that I will bring this to the
classroom.
Throughout my twenty-two years of life, eighteen years have been spent in the school
setting. I have had a few good teachers, many bad ones, and the majority, were mediocre at best.
Throughout my twenty-two years of life, I have experienced a severely broken home with
several adult role models having come and gone. I have helped raise and support my younger
brother, who is still one of the most important people in my life. Additionally, I have both
witnessed and experienced several forms of abuse throughout my lifetime. I cannot recall a
single teacher in my educational experience, prior to college, who acted as a support system or
even acted as if they cared about my life outside of school. I will never be the teacher who does
not notice when a student is in need. Teaching requires so much more than going to school,
understanding the standards, and providing students with academic information. One must
always be at their best and taking a genuine interest in the students who come into the classroom.
This is especially true in that students and families do not always seem like they are in need.
Having been a student who became very talented at outwardly excelling while intrinsically
imploding, I feel that I bring a special talent to the field in that I can directly relate to students
who are struggling in more areas than just school.
I am so thankful for the growth that I have gone through during my time at Dominican
University. I am particularly grateful for the relationships that I have built with my peers as well
as the wonderful professors and administrators here. I have been on a great path of selfdiscovery and have learned so much during all of my courses and field experiences within this
program. This program has helped me to gain such confidence in my abilities as well as in

myself. I can genuinely say, that I am ready to be a teacher. I am so thrilled to commit myself to
being a lifelong learner and to explore what the future will bring.