Early inspiration
Both my parents valued education greatly and instilled the same in me. My mother being an educator and principal guided me in the direction of teaching by her own example as she taught me things at home from the time I was a very small child. Once I entered school, my mother ensured that I developed a sense of responsibility for my own work and assignments and helped build my self-esteem through encouragement and caring. Of equal importance, she also taught me to have great respect for the teachers who provided me with education. As I went through my schooling and higher education, I had many wonderful educators who had a great influence on my life and career decision. They provided an example and inspiration that no words could match and generated in me a motivation for learning that caused me to seriously think about wanting to do the same for others. I admired the dedication and knowledge held by these teachers, as well as the manner in which they were able to convey the material to students. I hoped someday to be able to do the same.

Now, it’s my turn to give back
One of my greatest joys as an educator is to witness the success and growth of my students. I feel a tremendous sense of pride and accomplishment when I see my students utilize a skill that they previously couldn't; see them get so excited about a topic that they come in the next day with an armful of library books they've found because their interest was piqued; have parents come in and tell me that their child went home and talked to them about the topic we were involved in; or get a thank you note from a student who has finally caught on to a concept, happily announcing, "Now I've got it! This is fun!