As selfish as it may sound, I believe that this internship has affected me more than it has
the students. The choice to intern at Mrs. Parnell’s art class was not a decision I had to spend the
weekend reflecting over, unlike other students, because it was one of the only classrooms I had
felt fully accepted in while attending John B. Dey Elementary School.
When I was a student at John B. Dey, I spent most of my time in a reading program
called Read180. This program was for students who struggled with reading and writing. The
program was located outside of the school, in a portal, on the field. With this, I rarely spent time
with the other students in my homeroom classes or saw my teachers. While this program was
intended for me to become a stronger reader and writer, it made me feel left out with the events
going on in the school. Due to this, I was never able to build relationships with my teachers or
fellow classmates.
Growing up, I had always loved art, which is why Mrs. Parnell’s art class had such a
positive impact on my self-esteem as a child. I was well aware that I could never be the smartest
person in the room, but as soon as I realized that I could be the most creative, my perspective
changed. Every year, my art teachers, Mrs. Hestor and Mrs. Parnell, would submit my artwork to
be in the Pembroke Mall Art Show. In fifth grade, I had joined the Art Club afterschool, which
allowed me to spend more time with students who shared a mutual interest in art. I was able to
make friends with the students in this class, which was an opportunity I never had due to my
involvement in Read180. Towards the end of fifth grade, I had won the art contest, “Art of a
Military Child,” which was a contest centered around showing appreciation for the soldiers in the
military. Not long after, all of my teachers, as well as the principal, started to congratulate me in
the hallways. This was an interaction I had never experienced because I had spent the majority of
my time away from other classes and teachers.
When having the opportunity to go back to Mrs. Parnell’s classroom through the VTFT
program, I was very excited. The night before, I had picked out the most colorful outfit I could
find to try and match the aesthetic of her classroom. On the first day, I remember being more
excited to meet everyone than nervous because of how comfortable her classroom had made me
feel as a former student. Throughout the weeks, I would introduce myself to all the classes and
assist her students with their artwork. All of her students were friendly and kind, which naturally
made it easier for me to build relationships with the students. In my first week, a student had
shared with me personal stories about his family, which made me feel appreciative that he had
felt comfortable talking to me. Every week I had new classes, which was overwhelming at first
because I was afraid I would not be able to build relationships with the students; however, it
provided me with more opportunities to learn how to become a stronger teacher. When walking
around the classroom, I often complimented the students’ artwork because I had remembered
how receiving compliments had always made me feel more confident in her class. Everyday I
helped prepare Mrs. Parnell’s classroom for the next project, which allowed me to learn about
the “behind the scenes” of being a teacher. These tasks ranged from cutting up styrofoam boards
to molding clay.
Mrs. Parnell shared with me stories about students that would thank her personally for
hanging up their artworks in the hallways because they had never experienced any recognition
for their artwork at home. I learned how to recognize people for “gifted talents” in art, which was
interesting to learn about because I had previously been tested for “gifted arts.” I grew closest
with a student named Connor because he was very enthusiastic about art and meeting new
people, which reminded me of how I felt when I was a student at John B. Dey. For weeks, every
student was excited to work on their art projects. It was obvious that these students appreciated
art and enjoyed being in Mrs. Parnell’s classroom, which is something I will strive to achieve if I
pursue a career in education.
When it was time to present my lesson plan, I was very excited. After watching Mrs.
Parnell throughout the weeks, I noticed how she was able to captivate the attention of all her
students through her lessons and projects. Many of the students would reply with “OMG WOW”
or “THAT’S SO COOL” when she taught. This made me determined to do well on my own
lesson. Overall, my lesson went really well. Everyone was excited to paint their own castles and
many were sad when the class was over, which I took as a compliment because they did not want
to stop painting.
All in all, this internship has made me feel nostalgic and appreciative for my time at John
B. Dey, as an intern, as well as a former student. I had an amazing time growing up in her
classroom, as well as visiting through the VTFT program. While I may not pursue a career in
education, my experience in her classroom has helped me establish a future interest in working
with children.
