I began my career as a student in a town called Massapequa located on Long Island. I was born October 1st, 1994. This was right near the cut off date for the start of school. My parents had the choice for if they wanted to put me into school early or if they wanted to hold me back and wait an extra year. I had a brother that was one year older than me and we did everything together. For this reason my parents wanted to keep us as close as possible so the decision was made that I would enter school early. I was always on the younger end of the age spectrum compared to my peers but I certainly never let that hold me back.
From first grade through twelfth, I was enrolled in the Massapequa Pubic School District. The twelve years I spent in public school provided me with some of the best memories that I have. Massapequa is a very large town. Every year Massapequa graduates 650-700 students. I started in Lockhart Elementary School, which is one of six elementary schools in the district. Each elementary school is home for grades 1-6. School started out rough for me. In first grade I always gave my mom a hard time about going to school. Once it got to the end of the year and into second grade I had gotten over a lot of my anxiety and I enjoyed myself.
School was never something that I worried about. I loved playing sports and my father stressed the importance of education at a very early age. We made a deal that if my grades were not up to his standards then I would not be able to compete anymore. This didn’t bother me at all because school never really was too difficult in my eyes. I viewed it as an opportunity to go and hang out with my friends. My parents would get upset with me because I never put much time into studying but in the end I always achieved A’s so they could not get too mad at me. My elementary school teachers had major impacts on me. I always had positive relationships with them and I always felt that I could go to them for help.
When I moved on to higher grades my consistency in school remained. The majority of the grades I received were A’s. Because of my success I never felt I had to put in much effort. At the time I saw nothing wrong with that because it gave me more time to practice sports. Looking back I wish I gave a little more effort. I was taking all regents classes when I could have been in the advanced classes. I was on the High Honor Roll when I should have been on the Principles list. These are lessons that I learned the hard way when I got to college.
When I arrived to SUNY Cortland in 2012, I was in for a rude awakening. I found out quick that college is not something that can be taken lightly. I struggled mightily and had to change the way I studied. For the first time I found myself putting in the extra effort and it was showing. I still did not have a full appreciation for education until the summer after my freshman year.
The summers of college I worked on a moving truck loading and unloading furniture. This was hard work for very little pay. I worked with grown men who have previously been in jail or on drugs. This to me was the best education I have ever received, the Education of the real world. From this I gain a great appreciation for education. I learned very quickly what might happen when school is not taken seriously.
As an educator I will want my students to experience the same success I had experienced when I was in school. I want students to want come to school. I will be positive, exciting and understanding. I will also take my work experiences into the classroom with me. I will not give up on the students that are considered “at risk”. I will remind them why it is important that they are in school. I will have high standards for all students and I will make sure I keep all the students motivated to do their best.
From first grade through twelfth, I was enrolled in the Massapequa Pubic School District. The twelve years I spent in public school provided me with some of the best memories that I have. Massapequa is a very large town. Every year Massapequa graduates 650-700 students. I started in Lockhart Elementary School, which is one of six elementary schools in the district. Each elementary school is home for grades 1-6. School started out rough for me. In first grade I always gave my mom a hard time about going to school. Once it got to the end of the year and into second grade I had gotten over a lot of my anxiety and I enjoyed myself.
School was never something that I worried about. I loved playing sports and my father stressed the importance of education at a very early age. We made a deal that if my grades were not up to his standards then I would not be able to compete anymore. This didn’t bother me at all because school never really was too difficult in my eyes. I viewed it as an opportunity to go and hang out with my friends. My parents would get upset with me because I never put much time into studying but in the end I always achieved A’s so they could not get too mad at me. My elementary school teachers had major impacts on me. I always had positive relationships with them and I always felt that I could go to them for help.
When I moved on to higher grades my consistency in school remained. The majority of the grades I received were A’s. Because of my success I never felt I had to put in much effort. At the time I saw nothing wrong with that because it gave me more time to practice sports. Looking back I wish I gave a little more effort. I was taking all regents classes when I could have been in the advanced classes. I was on the High Honor Roll when I should have been on the Principles list. These are lessons that I learned the hard way when I got to college.
When I arrived to SUNY Cortland in 2012, I was in for a rude awakening. I found out quick that college is not something that can be taken lightly. I struggled mightily and had to change the way I studied. For the first time I found myself putting in the extra effort and it was showing. I still did not have a full appreciation for education until the summer after my freshman year.
The summers of college I worked on a moving truck loading and unloading furniture. This was hard work for very little pay. I worked with grown men who have previously been in jail or on drugs. This to me was the best education I have ever received, the Education of the real world. From this I gain a great appreciation for education. I learned very quickly what might happen when school is not taken seriously.
As an educator I will want my students to experience the same success I had experienced when I was in school. I want students to want come to school. I will be positive, exciting and understanding. I will also take my work experiences into the classroom with me. I will not give up on the students that are considered “at risk”. I will remind them why it is important that they are in school. I will have high standards for all students and I will make sure I keep all the students motivated to do their best.
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