The quiet gym surrounded by vacancy slowly welcomes me in as I stand in the front of

the room waiting for the entire fourth grade to stampede through the doors. The background
music plays through the speakers, but only a couple out of over 70 kids decide to dance or sing
in their designated spot in line. The children rarely run up to where I am standing at the start of
class to give me hugs or have a conversation. This is caused by potential connections never
occurring. I observe, not engage. Watching the fourth graders run laps around the green patch
of grass every day, I have no need to teach. I tell the children to be quiet instead of asking how
their day has been. I would watch the clock hands pass through time, eager to walk to my car.
The formation of relationships among the students only started in the last month of my
internship, but the beginning soon ended.
Due to this experience of my junior year internship, I went back and forth on deciding to
take VTFT II. I talked to my guidance counselor, teachers, family, and college academic advisor
on possible outcomes of choosing different electives or going through the second level of this
program. During the last week of school, I was influenced by the mural painted in the classroom
hallway. Showcasing a glimpse of VTFT at Cox High School, I found how great of an opportunity
we have to prepare for future careers. I decided to give it one more shot and sign up for another
year.
Walking into the classroom filled with hopeful second graders, gratitude fulfills my
emotions. Every day, I place my phone and keys down on the other side of the classroom far
from the tables and chairs. In a matter of five seconds, I am bombarded by breathless hugs and
cheerful voices yelling my name. From the way the children welcome me, you would think I was
gone for months at a time. The students grab my hand forcing me to observe their progress.
They are eager to show off their work even if it is just a tiny drawing related to their writing
assignments. My kind words and body language of approval and satisfaction draw a boost of
confidence. Generating strong mindsets to keep excelling in their academics, they are pleased
when they are assigned a new project. The enjoyment and excitement of having the opportunity
to learn are fresh in their brains. They walk into school every day not waiting for the bell to ring
for dismissal but with curiosity about the new information taught to them.
If I was asked the question last year, “Do you want to be a teacher?” I would
immediately say, “No.” If the same question was asked this year, I would hesitate before
answering. I know what these second graders enjoy on the weekends, how they are able to
understand the information granted to them, or personal conflicts occurring at home. I have
many students ask me for personal advice and tell me 30-minute stories about their life. You
would think I would get easily bored listening to this, but the way these children express their
excitement while explaining keeps me intrigued. Being a possible reflection of themselves in 10
years, I want to fulfill my role as an inspirational leader. A girl in the class came up to me one
day informing me she saw my face in a Cox Field Hockey picture at a local restaurant. After
telling me this information, she explained that she wants to similarly have a field hockey picture
on the wall, so she signed up for Cox field hockey camps this upcoming summer. Until this
moment, I was unaware of how big of a role model I could be in someone’s life.
I find teaching as a way of leadership and inspiration for the children’s future. Forming
these bonds develops charisma and respect in myself as I strive to be a postive impact on a
child’s future. Although, unfortunately, due to going to a private university, paying a large amount
each year, I can’t be a teacher right after college and will be majoring in engineering. This
doesn’t mean I will never find my way back to the classroom. In the far future, after years of
experience in the engineering field, I tend to recieve my degree in teaching. This exemplifies
how many individuals find that they would love to have one job but show it to be unrealistic
based on personal expenses. I fall in this category. I know that teaching is not about the salary
in any sense, and some argue that if you really want to acquire this job, you wouldn’t care about
this sort of issue. Although, I would be financially affected in a negative manner by starting out
of college.
Teaching may not be my first career out of college, but this experience is one I can take
with me wherever I may be. Developing relationships and exemplifying a positive impact in
someone else’s life is not something just shown in a classroom. This is an important aspect in
the real world as we encounter many different people as life moves on. Through this
development, employment can be limitless and my future can continue to move in a positive
direction.