Running head: AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL ESSAY 1

Autobiographical Essay

Crystal Mireles

Professor Carol Billing

EDU 120 Foundations of Education

Spring 2018
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Introduction

I never considered becoming an educator until I started to volunteer at my son's school. I

got good grades in elementary school and did my homework, but once I reached my teen years, I

started to hate school. I would fake being sick, miss the bus so I wouldn't have to go. Everything

started to become harder, and I couldn't keep up. I struggled in my teens and had no desire to

continue, so I decided at 16 years old to drop out. I look back now, and I wish that I wouldn't

have quit. Since I started college, I realized that I didn't hate school I struggled to keep up with

my peers, and I lost my self-confidence along the way. I needed help from my teachers, but I was

also too embarrassed to ask for help. My teacher wasn't helpful to start with; this is why I want to

become a teacher. I want my students to know that they shouldn't be scared or embarrassed to

ask for help. They are our future president, doctors, and teachers and I want to help them

succeed. This why I want to become a teacher.

Educational Background

I attended elementary education at Lincoln in Caldwell. Then I began my secondary

education at Syringa Middle School in Caldwell. I recently enrolled at College of Western Idaho

to obtain my degree as an educator. My current level of education is the GED.

When I had a hard time with a subject in elementary school, I could stay after school and

get the help I needed from my teacher or the teacher's aide. They were always so helpful and

willing to help when I needed it. My teachers were engaging and supportive. I was in ESL class

as a child. I come from a Spanish-speaking family, so it made it extremely hard for me to keep

up with the rest of the class. ESL helped me grow as a student, and it taught me the English

language too. When I started the third grade, I met my favorite teacher, Mrs. Yamamoto, she

noticed that I needed more help and requested to have me stay after class a few times a week to
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help me with my reading and writing. I had the hardest time with these two subjects, especially

with reading. My parents couldn't help, and my teacher knew so she made sure that I was on

track and didn't fall too behind. Getting the additional help was encouraging and uplifting, I

knew that if my teacher believed in me, I could start to believe in myself.

Becoming an educator hasn't always been my dream, I think as a child you want to be all

kinds of things from being a doctor to being a football player. I remember being a kid and

playing school with my little cousins and loving every moment of it. As I became an adult, I

didn't image myself speaking in front of an actual classroom full of children and being the

teacher. I got married young and had a son. I needed to decide if I was going to work an eight-to-

five job or have a career. I chose to have a career, so I enrolled in the Cosmetology School. After

working as a cosmetologist, I realized it wasn't fulfilling as I'd hoped.

Work History Service and/or Extracurricular Activities

I began working at age 17 at our local mall as a barista. I interacted with people that I had

never seen before; it taught me how to talk to others. I didn't make a lot of money, the minimum

wage was $5.15 an hour, and I was still living at home because I wasn't enrolled in school. I was

able to buy the things that I wanted and finally be able to make payments on an old car. Having a

job and being responsible showed me the value of money and how important it is to work hard

for the things that you want and need.

Once I had developed customer service skills, I was ready to move on from being a

barista. I applied at a store named Hollister in the Boise Mall. The environment was happy,

joyful, and bubbly and it always had music playing. I was taught how to fold the clothes that had

been tossed around and how to ring people out at the register, we all had cleaning duties as well.

After a year I advanced to manager, and I had received more responsibilities. I went from the
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register to handling inventory it was a dream come true. The job wasn't difficult it was fun, I was

able to work with people that were my age and people that were younger. My experience with

customer service grew, I felt invincible.

Once I knew that I wanted to further my education, I had to receive my GED to expand

my job prospects. I began to take classes at Boise State campus to start the tutoring. Once I was

prepared to take the test I scheduled it. After I received my GED, I knew that I wanted to go to

college. I began to research jobs that I might enjoy as a starting point. At this point in my life I

was a married mother of one and couldn't afford to attend school for four years, I decided to

attend Cosmetology School in Nampa. It was a 14-month program that would allow me to work

with all ages. The program helped me understand and meet people needs; whether it was a

haircut or a manicure, everyone was different. I started school and enjoyed it all from cutting hair

to painting nails; everything was so much fun.

When I completed my certification, I received my license to begin my career in

cosmetology. I got a job in a local Supercuts to gain more experience so that I could someday

own my own business. Having developed the skills and training in the hair industry has taught

me to be patient, mindful and open to different techniques. My job was never dull; it was filled

with laughter, open minds, and communication. I was able to focus on others needs and wants; I

felt as if I had found what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. Unfortunately, that wasn't the

case; I worked passed five most days and worked all day Saturdays and Sundays giving me no

time for my family. I then realized seven years later, I didn't want to do hair forever. Then one

day I decided that I wanted to step back a little bit from doing hair and do it part-time. I started to

look for a part-time job that would allow me more time with my family and continue to do hair,

but I found nothing.

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During my son's first year of school, I began volunteering as a teacher's aide. My duties

were to help the students with their reading logs, participation, and solving math problems. His

teacher taught me the importance of patience and understanding, which are two significant

components of teaching. It wasn't until then that I realized how much I enjoyed the education

environment. His teacher suggested that I apply to substitute and I quickly considered it. I was

surprised at the option because I thought that you needed a degree, but you didn't. I applied, and I

had calls every day. Sometimes the teachers themselves would contact me to come and help. The

kids enjoyed having me around and wanted to see more of me. I substituted a few times a week,

and I would even get out of doing hair just to go into a classroom to teach. I would read over the

assignments and make sure that all the children were on task, it was so refreshing to know that

the children were happy to learn, and they enjoyed my presence. The teachers were glad to help

me with any questions I had and guided me; they were willing to take time to teach me.

Shortly after I began working as a substitute teacher, I came to realize that this career for

me. The experience I learned through past work has taught me that helping others and

understanding their needs is an essential aspect of becoming a teacher. I look forward to using

my skills and experience to contribute to children's success.

Ethical Reasoning in Education

Reading in the 4th grade was the hardest time in my youth. Not only was I struggling in

other classes I was behind in all my reading activities. I was always asking for help from others

and feeling embarrassed that I didn't know how to read at a 4th-grade level. I wasn't getting help

at home because my parents didn't know the English language and I was the only child, so it left

me with no help other than being at school.

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When it came to reading out loud, I found any excuse not to participate and allow others

to raise their hands, but my teacher wasn't as understanding. She was very different from other

teachers that I have had in the past; she didn't care much about how she taught us nor if we

needed help. So, my teacher would call on you whether you wanted to read or not she didn't care.

My time came up to read, but when I didn't know the word I would stop and sound it out in my

head, but my teacher would say to me that I should know these words and that I didn't need help,

so she would wait for me to say it. It was so embarrassing I felt I was being punished because I

didn't know all the words that I should by now. It destroyed my self-confidence. I felt as if I

wasn't as intelligent as my peers and I couldn't turn to my teacher because she didn't want to help

me.

I think with a Utilitarianism view a solution to this problem is to help your students when

they need it and allow time for growth everyone learns so differently and at their own pace.

Being in a classroom myself and watching the students learning and work together has taught me

that not every student will be at their grade level and to assume that everyone is, that's wrong.

Having students raise their hand if they want to read out loud should be an option in a classroom

setting because students at this age are still learning. Some students may need more help than

others encourage them to come for help and reassure them that they are learning every day and

its okay to ask for assistance. It will help the student grow as an individual and become more

independent, and they will succeed.

Considerations for Choosing Education as a Career

From the very beginning of my journey, I was told that teachers don't get paid much, and

that I should look into a different career, and that I may end up hating it. There were so many

things that could have stopped me from starting school and wanting to become an educator.
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However, this was my life my choice. Nobody understood why I had chosen education over

business, law or any other career. I knew that I wanted to help children/students find their full

potential in school. When I started substituting it was for extra income, but I fell in love with the

job. Helping them each day and seeing them grow with my help was an incredible feeling

someone can have. I think becoming a teacher isn't for everyone because in the teaching field

there is pressure, patience, tolerance and the ability to stay calm with angry parents.

I chose to teach because I believe that a teacher can make a difference in a student's

academic life. I want to guide them through short-term goals and towards their future career. I

believe that every student can succeed and with the right support and tools and they will thrive.

The skills that I will bring into the teaching field are patience, understanding, and

honesty. I want my students to come to me and know that I will always be here to guide them

and help them through any tough times. It only takes one teacher to make a positive impact in a

child's/student’s life. I genuinely believe that if you put your heart into your job as a teacher, you

will learn that you cannot put a price on that.

Professional Goals

My short-term goals are to finish my degree at College of Western Idaho. I also would

like to continue volunteering at sons’ elementary school to further my experience as a teacher.

When I observe and ask questions, in the classroom, I gain more knowledge, and it helps me

understand the students one-on-one. Maybe I can get a job as a paraprofessional and get much

more experience. I hope to graduate Spring of 2019, and I couldn't be more excited.

My long-term goals are to graduate from College of Idaho with a bachelors in Elementary

Education. I haven't decided what grade to teach yet but when I would substitute I enjoyed the

first grades. Hopefully, when I start looking for jobs, I can find a job close to home so that I can
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be closer to my family, and if the situation is right, I'm willing to take a chance in another state

with my family at my side. I plan to achieve my goals by doing well in school, keep up with my

reading and continue my observations in a classroom setting.

There are many more reasons why I choose a career in teaching. I know that my

experiences and my goals will help me in the future. The teachers I have had in the past taught

me how to do the math; they taught to read and write because they cared about me and wanted to

see me succeed. I believe that a teacher can make a difference in one child's life and I wouldn't

be the person I am today without them; they are my heroes.