I knew I wanted to be a teacher when...

I knew I wanted to be a teacher when... I was showing a group of 4th grade students chemistry demonstrations with my professor Maria Dean. I felt the students get excited after each demonstration and I was rewarded with their “ooohs” and “ahhhs.” I wanted to keep them enthralled with the chemical reactions but we ran out of demonstrations. In that moment I wanted to know more about chemistry so that I could entertain and educate the young minds in front of me.


My best memory about learning is...when my 8th grade science teacher captivated his students with a demonstration to start off class each day. Mr. Adams was a brilliant teacher and would have the attention of a full classroom at the start of the bell. Each day he would start class with an explosion or another experiment. Then he would ask the students questions about their observations. The students were engaged immediately and full of excitement. I learned a lot from Mr. Adams because I was fully engaged, even my classmates were engaged, there was no one to distract my attention from science.

The legacy I hope to leave is...one of a positive engaging experience for my students. I want my students to be excited to learn but I also want them to be curious. I want to indulge my students by the stories of science in everyday life. I want to persuade them to be curious and ask questions about the food they are eating and the water they are drinking. I want my students to think critically. If none of those things are received by my students I at least want to be a role-model for my students.