Jayden M.

Crouch
04/24/2024
Virginia Teachers For Tomorrow
My Calling – The Education Profession
As children, the only way for them to learn is through the role models that they are
provided. For me, I didn’t have the best examples to guide me in the right direction. Thankfully, I
was able to come out on the other side as the person I am today and that is solely based on the
influences from my educators. I have always had amazing, positive relationships with all school
staff: principals, teachers, and even custodial personnel. However, I am very aware that not
everyone has the same experiences that I did.
For some, school is simply a burden. For others, it’s an escape. For me, I fell into the
latter of the two due to my complicated home life: divorcing parents, absent mother, etc. So,
going to school, having a greater social life, and simply being away from home was motivation
enough for me. Luckily, the teachers I had, whether it be from my third-grade teacher, Mrs. K, or
my fourth-grade teacher, Mrs. M, or my middle school chorus teacher, Mrs. K, or my
freshman-year theater teacher, Mr. C, all of these people took the time out of their busy
schedules to welcome me into their class, their temporary home.
Similarly, that’s why I fell into theater in the first place: escapism. The opportunity to
enter a new realm, even for just two to three hours a day, was one of the most peaceful times
for me. It not only allowed me to increase my social life, making the beautiful connections that I
did, but it let me grow one of my biggest, longest-standing passions.
One of the biggest reasons why I am so passionate about teaching, specifically theater,
is to allow my students the same opportunities and experiences that I did, if not better than I
had. My heart is set ablaze when I think about my open-door policies and my students just
having the time of their lives in my classroom, especially if they cannot do that elsewhere.
Additionally, I struggled with bullying as a child. Specifically due to my personality.
Growing up, I was always with my mother and sister; my dad was always deployed to the navy
and my brother was always hidden in his room. So, I always found myself playing Barbies with
my sister or hanging out with her while she gave her American Girl Dream dolls a makeover.
Naturally, that translated into my social life: I was always hanging out with girls and I struggled
making relationships with guys because I simply had no male role models in my life.
That is why, at university, I will be a part of their all-male teaching program which
supports the male influence in the classroom. I think that not only having a male figure in
someone’s life but having them be as passionate and supportive as I plan to be, will be one of
the most rewarding things in some students’ lives.
In conclusion, due to the lack of male educators and the ability to be positive role models
for students, I believe that teaching is what I am simply called to do. This was proven to me in
one of my recent internship experiences: I was helping my cooperating teacher’s co-teacher
who teaches math and science. Being that I haven't been in fifth-grade math for quite some
time, it took me a few moments to catch on, but once I did, I was able to walk around the class
and help the students who didn't necessarily need assistance in small groups but maybe some
help with simple multiplication errors or perhaps mistakes with setting up the problem. This was
one of the most simple things I could've done but I felt so empowered, rewarded, and belonging.
I finally felt as if I had been reassured that this, indeed, was the profession that I belonged to
because I was able to help the students, even if so simply. This was justified even more once
the students had to leave for lunch and the students in which I had helped thanked me for
helping and told me to have a good lunch. This was one of my most rewarding experiences at
internship but I get to relive that every time I go. The thought of doing that for the rest of my life
makes me quite emotional. Teaching is my passion. Teaching is my life.

"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others."
(Mahatma Gandhi)

Jayden M. Crouch.