Let's Get Acquainted Linky Party

Today I am linking up with Latoya at Flying into First Grade for the Let's Get Acquainted Linky Party.

This week's topic is a long one... as in I may ramble more than I mean to. Here we go...

1. What made you decide to become a teacher?
Well, the summer between my sophomore and junior year of college I worked at my former elementary school as an aide. I had actually done that for a couple of summers so I don't know what was different, but it was. At summer's end I headed back down to the University of San Diego and started my business and communications classes... yep, I was a double major and neither had anything to do with education....

Two weeks into the semester I just changed majors... just like that. If you know me, you would know that is how life seems to happen to me. I'm off the cuff and I change my mind a lot. I remember calling my parents from a pay phone... yes, a pay phone, and just saying, "I think I'm going to become a teacher."

My communications advisor/professor had a talk with me. I remember it vividly because that next week President Clinton and Senator Dole were having their debates on our campus... yep, I'm old (in case the pay phone comment didn't give it away)... that was the fall of 1996. My advisor pulled me into the room that was set up to house the debates in a few weeks time. People were running around like crazy trying to make our random auditorium look presidential. He said, "Isn't this exciting? Isn't this what you want to be part of?" He didn't mean the politics piece as much as it was to just be part of the media. That had been my plan: to be in journalism or news or this new thing that was called the "World Wide Web." I looked at him and said, "No, I don't think I do anymore."

And next thing I knew I was taking 18 units a semester to get caught up with my fellow education majors. I completed my student teaching in the fall of 1998 and had my own kindergarten classroom for the 1999-2000 school year.

Since then I have taught a variety of grades, at two schools in the states and one school in the UK and I can't imagine doing anything else.

2. What has been your most rewarding experience as a teacher?
I really can't answer this. I can't think of one experience to single out. I think for me it is the growth you see from September to June. It is just being with kids- they aren't jaded like adults and it makes me happy, happy, happy to be with them all day! And to think I could have been in the media? Wow!

3. If you were not a teacher, what would you be?
You would assume having read my story above that I would say journalism.... but right now, I would say I would be just like Erin Condren or Jenn Sbranti at Hostess with the Mostess (quick sidenote, she was my sorority sister at USD and I just LOVE everything she does) I would also like to mention I don't think I would be nearly as talented as either of those ladies so I will just stick to what I love so much... teaching!

Stop by Latoya's blog, Flying into First Grade, to read about other bloggers and link up too!