Running head: AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL ESSAY

Autobiographical Essay
Marley Antone
College of Southern Idaho
Professor Evin Fox
Education 201: Foundations of Education
Fall 2014

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Autobiographical Essay

Introduction
Interacting with kids in the community, volunteer tutoring, and working as a behavioral
specialist has allowed me to discover and explore how to interact with children on many levels
and in different environments. These experiences have provided the opportunities to practice
and strengthen skills I will need to be an effective teacher such as effective communication,
exposure to diversity, and creativity.
Educational Background
My educational background started at age four when I was observed by my pre-school
teachers demonstrating advanced communication, reading and math skills. They saw my need
for challenge and I quickly transitioned into the kindergarten group where I won several spelling
bees up against the older children. At age five, I started the first grade at a private catholic
school in Rupert called St. Nicholas. From there, I transitioned to the public schools for my
elementary education where I excelled academically and discovered my abilities in music and
art. At East Minico Junior High School, I was a cheerleader for three consecutive years and
starred as the queen in Roger and Hammersteins Cinderella.
At the beginning of my sophomore year in high school, I survived a near fatal automobile
accident and was homeschooled for three months. After regaining enough strength to return to
school, I still required a wheel chair to get around. Eventually I was able to walk and return to
performing as a member of our award winning high school dance team. At age seventeen, I
received my high school diploma with high honors. That experience taught me humility and the
ability to overcome adversity, a skill that will benefit me throughout many challenging aspects of
teaching.

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My post-secondary education consisted of attending Boise State University and

graduating with a bachelorette degree in psychology. Course study in childhood and adolescent
development provided vital information and background on the developmental progression of
children. This knowledge is integral for the teaching profession. For example, understanding the
maturity of the brain at different developmental stages helps a teacher navigate and problem
solve appropriately through issues that concern certain age groups. In addition, attaining
certification in adolescent suicide prevention addressed and prepared me for extreme crisis.
Work History
Through several retail, sales, and customer service positions, I discovered an intrinsic
desire to help others. Nine months away from college graduation, I was hired as a community
support and behavioral specialist in a residential rehabilitation facility. I looked after a few
clients with severe physical and mental disabilities. Helping them was a rewarding and life
changing experience. Through my interaction with these clients, I built skills such as quick
problem solving, creative diversions from sudden and extreme behaviors, and building a bond
with a diverse group of people. After graduation, I began working with people with severe
mental disorders as a PSR (psychosocial rehabilitation) provider. I gained valuable knowledge
and gained insight into yet another diverse part of the community.
With a psychology degree, I was able to provide community-based PSR services to
children with mental disabilities and disorders. After certifying as a child PSR specialist, I began
providing services in the classroom setting. Within the school system, we are held to a high
standard of professionalism. Our level of professionalism can be founded within the high
expectations and responsibilities found in the national code of ethics written by the National
Education Association (NEA). This same code of professional ethics guides teachers in their

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interactions with students, parents and colleagues (Kauchak and Eggen, 2014). I found that
working in a controlled, structured classroom atmosphere provided more opportunities for
growth and progress not only with behavior, but with the childrens ability to learn.
Rigorous training and certification of CPR, first aid, and non-violent crisis intervention
has equipped me with skills that will enhance my abilities to respond appropriately to a variety of
situations. For example, in non-violent crisis intervention, PSR and behavioral specialists learn
how to deescalate potentially aggressive or disruptive classroom behavior through
communication techniques and, if needed, proper restraining techniques to ensure the safety of
all involved.
Through communication with teachers and school staff, I have witnessed the impact of
collaboration. I have also seen the necessary effort and compassion it takes from all directions
within the school system to meet the needs of each child, especially those with special needs.
These experiences have revealed a passion to work with children and help them learn. I also
observed first-hand quality, purposeful, and compassionate teaching which has been a concrete
model for the kind of teacher I aspire to be.
Service and/or Extracurricular Activities
With my abilities to sing, dance, and play music, I was able to entertain senior citizens at
the geriatrics ward of the local hospital. As a part of the only clogging group in the area, we
traveled to several places in the state, entertaining different groups in the community. I have
learned the value of hard work, discipline, and team effort through being a part of a synchronized
performance group. As a student of piano and vocal lessons, I was involved in a several musical
programs throughout the community. Music has allowed me to experience the joy of selfexpression, community involvement, and working hard to achieve personal goals. This brings to

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mind a quote from Albert Einstein (BrainyQuote.com) that reads, It is the supreme art of the
teacher to awaken joy and creative expression and knowledge. Finding creative ways to instill
values and knowledge into the minds and hearts of students would be a fulfilling challenge.
While in college I took advantage of a volunteer opportunity at the Boys and Girls Club
of Boise and thoroughly enjoyed the privilege of interacting with children of all ages and
socioeconomic backgrounds. I tutored them, mediated disagreements, and was a spring board for
story-telling, secret keeping, and various other types of positive interactions.
Volunteer tutoring has been my most recent and rewarding service experience. After
beginning classes at CSI, I had the opportunity to use my affinity for mathematics and help
students with their math homework in an after-school tutoring program. Once a week I stay after
school and facilitate a math lab for middle school kids who struggle or are behind in math. As
the only math enthusiast available after hours, I go from one raised hand to the next and helping
to solidify basic to algebraic math skills and am loving every minute of it. After tutoring several
kids who struggled in math, I discovered a desire to use my skills in mathematics to further my
studies.
Goals
My long term goals are to establish and build a career upon helping young people reach
their own personal goals. My skills and talents were diversified into music, dance, theatre, and
academics. As a first generation college student, I struggled to find direction in my studies. I
would like to have the opportunity to help young people discover their talents and passions and
guide them in finding and achieving their goals. As a teacher or guidance counselor, I would get
that opportunity to encourage students to harness their abilities towards a fulfilling career path.

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My short term goals are to earn my associate degree in education by the summer of 2015,
then transfer to a four year university to complete my teaching certification, focusing on
mathematics. I would like to pursue and take advantage of opportunities that offer valuable
educational knowledge and experience to enhance my capabilities as an educator and mentor.
Why Choose Teaching as a Career?
I was about 5 or 6 years old when I told my mother I wanted to be a teacher when I grew
up. My first experience with a difficult pupil was my reluctant younger brother. While I was
enjoying my teaching role and taking it quite seriously, my brother was not. Needless to say, I
learned that it might be a more difficult task than I had planned. Over the years, I had some
wonderful teachers that made their jobs look so effortless and fun. The joy of teaching radiated
from their souls. They had a significant impact on my life by making me feel important, like I
had something to offer. My gift is to give back and make other children feel important, like
those teachers did for me.
As a first generation college student without mentors or older family members to guide
me, I meandered aimlessly from class to class, barely making it and forgetting my aspirations to
teach in the process. While working as a PSR specialist, I found out I was needed at home to
take care of my father who was diagnosed with Lou Gehrigs disease. Luckily, I was offered a
PSR position at the local school district were I rediscovered my passion for teaching. Being in
the classroom and witnessing the art of teaching evoked the positive experiences I had as a child.
Watching the children learn and grow as the days and months went by, I became more and more
intrigued with the aspect of teaching and enrolled at the College of Southern Idaho to begin the
course work for a degree in education.

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Conclusion
It is a well-known fact that teaching can be a challenging profession. However, a
national survey found that more than eight out of ten teachers reported loving to teach (MetLife,
2009). This could be because teaching provides a career with opportunities to make a difference
in a childs life on a daily basis. Through my experience in the community and the local schools,
I have gained valuable information and insight into the lives of kids of all ages. I have been able
to gain perspective on their home and school life, as well as what motivates them from day to
day. In conjunction with the training and experience my education and previous job experiences
have provided, I feel prepared to face any challenges and embrace the rewards that come with
teaching children.

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References

Albert Einstein. BrainyQuote.com. Retrieved November 27, 2014, from BrainyQuote.com Web
site: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/a/alberteins122147.html
Kauchak, D., & Eggen, P. (2014). Introduction to teaching: Becoming a professional (5th ed.).
Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education Inc.
MetLife. (2009). MetLife survey of the American teacher, Part 3: Teaching as a career.
Retrieved from http://www.metlife.com/assets/cao/contributions/foundation/americanteacher/MetLife_Teacher_Survey_2009_Part_3.pdf