Professional Teaching Autobiography

What about me will make an excellent teacher?

The first thought that comes to mind when someone asks this question is for me to really look inward and question myself. It is hard to determine one aspect of myself that points to me being a “worthy” teacher. I prefer to think of it as a cocktail of various traits, moral standards, experiences, and of course personality. My focus is in High school Visual arts after all. After that, I believe asking questions, and taking the time to reflect on those questions will lead to more defined answers. What will truly help me connect with teenagers who either do not care much or desperately need a bit of guidance and assurance in their lives? To answer this question, I will start by saying I enjoy explaining things in various ways. This has obvious applications in multiple subjects. In addition to this, I enjoy listening to students explaining their ideas and how they solve problems. The most rewarding aspect of teaching in my case is when a student has that lightbulb moment. Being flexible and open to explorative learning is another joy of mine. The teachers I had resisted the notion that they can learn from youth as well. I enjoy learning, exploring, and figuring things out alongside others. Every age group has something to share and I believe being the person to listen and learn alongside others will help me be an excellent teacher.

Why is teaching a career that is compelling to you?

As a child, I was taught in that oh-so-drab “90’s textbook” style. We sat in seats and were rarely allowed to explore or enjoy others’ company while “learning.” School felt like a prison that offered limited glimmers of interest (mine being art, science, and writing.) I remembered wondering why students were not encouraged to think independently several times throughout my life. People are people and they each have unique outlooks and representations of everything. So why not become a person who cares to listen and who enjoys learning with others? After a long while, I naturally came to the assumption that I would enjoy helping other students create art in a welcoming and fun setting. My high school art experience was fun but looking back it seemed mediocre and lacked true connection. I would love to be the person who welcomes students into a fun and creative environment. The freedom of working with your hands, solving problems in an interesting way, and listening to music in a calm setting is exactly what most students need, especially given our current societal issues. High school is a stressful time for most students, adding a pandemic among other issues, will cause even more weight for them to carry. Growing up alongside art can offer some therapeutic relief to ease that stress. For me, offering a safe space for our youth will be enough to compel me and keep me interested. Helping people succeed and explore will always be a passion of mine.

What type of teacher do you hope to be?

I hope to become a wonderfully inclusive, welcoming, and happy-go-lucky teacher. I will become an art teacher that inspires others and offers guidance. I want to become the person who can help a student work on their self-confidence, help them figure out who they are, and offer a safe space to create in. There is a structure that is necessary for every class but as most will tell you, art class tends to be fun and positive. I will work hard to continue that narrative and be that positive association for my students. And who knows, I may even inspire the next master artist! All-in-all I believe simply being present in a class makes all the difference. A student who feels like the teacher does not care…won't care either. If you are not the right blend of focused, fun, inclusive, stern, and respectful you may end up not enjoying your classroom experience. There will always be learning curves, but I believe in trying as hard as you can to find what works best for everyone involved and not just what suits your own best interests.