ABE 1

Autobiographical Essay

Teaching Philosophy Statement

Alvarado, Juan
Professor Janea Triplett-Newell
Foundations of Education
ABE Draft
Fall 2020
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Autobiographical Essay

Autobiographical Essay

Introduction

“You don’t have to make commissions to help people you know?” said the Head Coach

of Rocky Mountain College Chris Stutzriem. I love helping people whenever and wherever I can.

It’s a natural high I get and really enjoy it. I have sold equipment and services for the last six

years and thought it was the only way I knew how to assist everyone I meet and make money

from it. Until the moment we signed a wide receiver from the high school team I coach to Rocky

Mountain College. Coach Stutzriem explained to me the benefits of teaching and how it can be

rewarding. He also stated, what ended up pushing me to pursue teaching and return to school,

“Have the courage to act on your own thoughts.” I am acting on my thoughts and pursing what I

want to be: a teacher.

Educational Background

I attended my elementary education in the Mini-Cassia area, bouncing from Minidoka

and Cassia County Schools. My family never planned to buy a house. They always looked for

the best deal in rentals, that why I moved back and forth between the two counties. After

attending White Pine Elementary and West Minico Middle School I finally settled at Burley

Senior High School where I attended for my last four years of high school and graduated which

ended being the only education I finished. I received a partial scholarship to Eastern Oregon

University where I attended and flunked out. I knew what I wanted to do and have learned from

fluking out I was not ready for college. I took two classes in 2010 at College of Southern Idaho

and never took one again. Since Coaching High School football and managing a staffing agency,

I have found that teaching and guiding is what I want to do. From the little education I have, I
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Autobiographical Essay

have gained a lot of patience and developed great communication. I believe knowing how to

communicate with students and fellow teachers and be able to give the best experience. As for

patience, I know it will be needed when dealing with students and their errors.

Work History

I found a quick love in Sales. I started selling equipment and services in 2013 and never

turned back. I started selling services such as oil changes, equipment repair, and general repair

labor in service departments. I also have learned how to communicate and explain function and

repair procedures to customers. I ended up getting promoted to Outside Sales in 2015 and sold

farm and construction equipment since. One of the main reasons I decided to stay in sales is

because of the commissions. I was providing more than enough for my family and was content. I

currently am the branch manager of a staffing agency and have learned how to communicate

with people and learned, the hard way, coming through on my statements and promises on

different circumstances. Being able to help them reach their end goal and breaking down

problem will assist me in teaching. Are teenagers going to be harder than diagnosing a diesel

engine on a loader? Of course, but another reason I drive to become a teacher is the help I

received when I was in school from teachers who, I felt, never gave up on me.

Service and Extracurricular Activities

I was and am involved in numerous activities. I played football and baseball, ran track,

and wrestled in high school. I ended receiving a partial scholarship to play at Eastern Oregon

University in football. My favorite part of high school was B.S.O.P.P(Burley Special Olympic

Program Partner). I loved working with my peers on their progress in an event they chose. I

ended up gaining so much patience in all my extra-curricular activities and college football but
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Autobiographical Essay

what I ended learning the most is the different backgrounds of everyone. I learned that my

assumptions of everyone was typically wrong and became more understanding of everyone’s

background which I believe will assist me in teaching as well. I learned quick that by gaining

patience and with it, I can help people reach their goals who need help. That counts as all sort of

people. I currently assist people who need help finding jobs and guide them through steps that

would not seem difficult to the average person. From just showing up on time, getting through

interviews, and just getting a fresh start from incarceration are a few steps I assist my employees

in the staff agency.

Reason for Choosing Education as a Career

I considered becoming a teacher right after I graduated. I wanted to be like my role

models which were my communications and government teachers. I always talk to Scott Palin,

former football, baseball, and math teacher, about what I learned from him. Scott taught me so

much about sports but the only things I hung on to be his beliefs about being a good person and

setting goals I was finally convinced to pursue my teaching aspirations again after speaking to

Coach Chris Stutzriem after giving me a different point of view on teaching and coaching. I hope

to be able to demonstrate a good form of communication and leadership that my athletes can use

now and in the future. In teaching those, I would be extremely happy hearing and seeing my

former students achieve their goals from having great leadership and communication skills that I

have taught them.

Professional Goals
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Autobiographical Essay

I have a short-term goal of learning how to be a college student and use my

communication and drive to do so. I haven’t been a student for a long time and see it being

difficult of being a 31-year-old father and husband. My overall long-term goal to pick up

procedures and styles of teaching that I like and combine them to be the teacher I want to be, just

like coaching. I have a short- and long-term goal and it is commitment. I must be committed to

every assignment, test, semester, and year until I reach my goal. I am committed! I learned in my

late twenties that nothing is worth doing if you’re not fully committed to. I have been back and

forth on committing to be a teacher and after my loving wife sat me down and encouraged me to

commit to become a teacher, I jumped. I am over commissions, high paying jobs, and business

environments. I want to commit to our youth and help develop great students, fathers, mothers,

husbands, wives, and human beings.