I feel that my path towards becoming a teacher was always pretty apparent to me. It's something I've grown up doing. Even as a seven year old, my dad would pick me up from child care and could usually find me in the toddler section playing with the little kids as they learned their colors and shapes.
I grew up in Juneau, Alaska, as an only child until I was 10 years old. I remember being ecstatic when my little sister was born. Prior to that, I'd grown up seeing friends complain when they had to babysit or put in extra work to help their younger siblings; I never did. I would volunteer to watch my sister and was happy to cart her along with me almost everywhere I went. It was in my late teens that I realized I had the ability and passion for teaching children when I volunteered to be a camp counselor. I discovered that not only was I good at working with children, but that I was creative in a way that made learning fun and engaging for them. That was all the incentive I needed to know I wanted to pursue a degree in education.
I grew up in Juneau, Alaska, as an only child until I was 10 years old. I remember being ecstatic when my little sister was born. Prior to that, I'd grown up seeing friends complain when they had to babysit or put in extra work to help their younger siblings; I never did. I would volunteer to watch my sister and was happy to cart her along with me almost everywhere I went. It was in my late teens that I realized I had the ability and passion for teaching children when I volunteered to be a camp counselor. I discovered that not only was I good at working with children, but that I was creative in a way that made learning fun and engaging for them. That was all the incentive I needed to know I wanted to pursue a degree in education.
The Kuwait flag behind me
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After I received my bachelors in Elementary Education from UNCW, I took an international teaching position in Kuwait. I was fresh out of college and starting my very first teaching job half-way around the world from my home, and in a country and a culture I had never experienced before. To say I was overwhelmed that first year, would be a complete understatement! The culture and students were very different from anything I had experienced in my student teaching year. My first school was patient and understanding though, and I made it successfully through my first year. I resigned for a second year before moving to a different country. |
Bagan, Myanmar
My second overseas job took me to Yangon, Myanmar. I was very excited and selected it because it was/is a developing country. During my first few months there Yangon still didn't have enough towers to support massive cell phone use, so most people didn't have phones. I loved it! It felt like I was back in the 90's! I felt that more sincere connections were made during that time due to the limited technology. After my initial 2-year contract, I signed up for just one more before finding it time for a change again.
Five years, and two countries later. I feel that teaching overseas has helped me immensely as an educator. I've been continuously learning as my teaching has taken me to new parts of the globe. I'm open to different cultures and ideas, and I'm able to lead by example as a life long learner.
Five years, and two countries later. I feel that teaching overseas has helped me immensely as an educator. I've been continuously learning as my teaching has taken me to new parts of the globe. I'm open to different cultures and ideas, and I'm able to lead by example as a life long learner.
Kuwait National Day, enjoying the inflatables