How It All Began: Tumbling to the Future

My comic narrates a full circle story about my experience with a coach that inspired me
to achieve my potential, and therefore had ultimately revealed my love of teaching
combined with fitness, and desire to educate young minds. Through this experience, I
had learned that there is an infinite amount to learn, whether you are the student or the
teacher, and there is always room to grow and improve. Literacy as a whole should be
viewed with a growth mindset in which constructive feedback and suggestions are
communicated to help the individual progress and thrive, as shown in the illustration.
When creating this comic strip I went through a series of steps to reach the final result.
Firstly, I brainstormed what I wanted to convey and what I wanted it to look like.
Secondly, I created a rough draft on paper of my cartoon, later receiving feedback from
my peers. After taking into consideration their suggestions and comments, I made edits
and decided to use an alternative medium, allowing me to express myself with no
limitations in regards to creative freedom. As shown throughout my literacy
workshopping process, the notion of incorporating different modalities in regards to
literacy education increases an individual’s engagement. This allows students to
showcase their strengths and view their weaknesses as an opportunity to grow, through
attempting and making an effort. In addition, incorporating choice into the classroom
allows the students autonomy and ownership over their own learning, as well as
differentiation for all students in the class. Expression through literacy allows for
individuals to share their experiences and perspectives where they can display their
individuality in such a way where they are encouraged to be themselves, thus fostering
an inclusive learning environment for all. My illustrations highlight that it is not only the
teacher’s responsibility to foster an inclusive environment, but also the support, respect,
and encouragement of peers that contribute to creating a positive environment in which
all individuals are motivated to learn and grow. This piece not only portrays why I want
to become a teacher, but it is also a reflection on the kind of teacher I want to be;
creating a fun, safe, and positive environment for all individuals to improve and succeed
long-term, as a whole and in their literacy education journey.