Running head: AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL ESSAY 1

Autobiographical Essay

Emily Ivy

Professor Carol Billing

EDUC 120 Foundations of Education

Spring 201
Running head: AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL ESSAY 2

Introduction

Ever since I was a wee little toddler, I have wanted to be a teacher. Throughout the years,

I always took schooling very seriously, however, upon graduating I made the mistake of taking a

break from school. At the time, I thought it was the right path to take. I chose to pursue a job

instead of diving right into college, to work towards my career goal. It took me almost ten years

to wake up and realize that I wake up every day and dread my workdays. I want the work week

to be over before it even starts. I am not motivated to get out of bed, because this job I have isn’t

something I enjoy. I knew I wouldn’t be satisfied until I was in a teaching position.

Educational Background

I spent most of my elementary days at Greenhurst Elementary in Nampa, Idaho. My

mother just so happened to be the Librarian, so I was technically a teacher’s kid. I arrived early

to school every day and was there sometimes until it was dark outside. My mother eventually

enrolled me at Ross Elementary in Kuna, Idaho to complete my sixth-grade year. It is crazy how

everything works out because she actually ended up taking a Librarian position for the Kuna

School District. From there I attended Kuna Middle School, and onto Kuna High School, where I

graduated with the class of ’08.

I am currently an undergraduate student in my second semester of college working

towards my AA for Elementary Education. Most of my experience in this field has been through

volunteering at Reed Elementary and Silver Trail Elementary in the library for my mother, and

through my two years of elementary and secondary substitute teaching for the Kuna School

District. So far, diverse education I have been enrolled in, as well as the volunteering, has really

opened my eyes to a more in-depth self-reflection on my decision to major in elementary

education. Schooling has also guided me towards the basic and extensive information and skills

needed to be a successful college student and future educator of tiny humans.

Work History and/or Extracurricular Activities

For the past ten years, I have worked in customer service, and for the past three and a half

years, I have been working at an inbound call center. I started off in sales and was eventually

promoted to a position in retention. Oh, the things that I have learned about myself, and about

people in general, through this experience. I have developed skills to be able to properly

communicate at the level that I need to be on for each individual customer, to be able to connect

with them; enhancing their customer experience. I have gained ample amounts of patience.

Working in a call center environment with over four hundred people, I have gotten to experience

diversity, and learned to adapt to various changes daily. This type of job changes you. It makes

you mentally tough and alert; almost to the point of pure exhaustion by the end of the day.

However, it sure does feel good to know you that you truly earned your money that day, and

hopefully impacted at least one person’s day for the better. With this position you are ready to

take on any situation thrown at you. Traits that I believe are imperative to teaching as well. I also

spent a few years as a substitute teacher. I have experience supervising groups of people at a

time, resolving concerns, keeping organized, and presenting myself in a professional manner;

always.

All this experience has, and continues, to contribute to my development as a professional

educator. I have gained ample amounts of patience while training new associates, and handling

irate and needy customers. This has prepared me for the diversity of students I will encounter

throughout my teaching career, as well as with parents and co-workers who I may need extra

patience to work with. In my roles, I had to be organized with my workspace area, which will
AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL ESSAY 4

help me transition this skill from customer service to teaching, so I can keep my lesson plans and

classroom organized. Absence of chaos, by keeping students busy and engaged, as well as

creating smooth transitions throughout the day by being prepared, is the key. When organized

and when the day flows, stress levels are down. This means students are less likely to get

sidetracked or bored when they move from one planned lesson to the next.

A service that I currently have been a part of is cooking meals to feed women and

children at a shelter in Nampa with my sister’s church group, which has been such a humbling

experience, but it breaks my heart to think about the situations these kids are subjected to. I enjoy

talking with the diverse group of kids and it really makes me feel blessed to one day be able to

work with kids like the ones at the shelter. I am determined to make my classroom a stable place

for my students to belong one day.  There are no words to express how excited I am to continue

absorbing the qualities and knowledge of a successful teacher, to one day make my classroom

environment, and ways of teaching, life changing for these kids. 

Ethical Reasoning in Education 

Of course, I know that things aren't always going to be smooth sailing by any means.

Conflict can arise from students, parents, peers, bosses, etc. Sometimes this conflict is

heightened and becomes more of an educational ethical dilemma. It is amazing just how far some

people are willing to go to save a penny, or for convenience. Texas was recently the focus of an

educational ethical dilemma. A dilemma that just baffles me how anyone with a conscience

would not surface this issue sooner.  

According to an article from the New York Times, written by Brian M. Rosenthal,

released January 11, 2018, the state of Texas, illegally deprived thousands of special needs kids

from receiving assistance through the educational system for things like therapy and tutoring.

(Rosenthal, 2008). What I couldn’t wrap my head around is how this flew under the radar for

not days, or months, but years! The Federal Department of Education finally put an end to this

madness by sending the Texas Education Agency a letter stating that they were in violation of

federal laws that made it mandatory that these kids can't be denied their education. (Rosenthal,

2008) The ball was dropped many times. School districts didn't speak up, individual teachers

didn’t speak up. (Rosenthal, 2008) They had to have known that this was not ethical. To make it

even worse, the state had the nerve to deny the allegations when they did surface. (Rosenthal,

2008). The end result was the state of Texas having to acknowledge all of the children who were

affected by this ethical dilemma, help them, and there were other consequences as well

(Rosenthal, 2008).  

I believe that Utilitarianism is an ethical orientation to develop a solution to this ethical

dilemma. For example, teachers who were educated about the target amount of special needs

kids that could be accepted should have thought about the laws set in place countering this target;

to determine that this limit was wrong. They also should have taken their morals into

consideration and ultimately decided to do the right thing on a larger scale. What was the right

thing to do? Keep it hush hush to keep the school out of hot water and to ultimately keep the

state out of trouble? Or speak up for the greater good; these thousands of kids who deserved their

education. Although it may make waves, making the right choice to surface this issue, even if it

meant putting his or her job or the entire state at risk, was the right thing to do. Either way there

was going to be possible consequences. Not saying anything was hurting these kids who don’t
AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL ESSAY 6

have a voice and protecting people that could have fixed the issues long before they were of this

magnitude. This is just another reason for me to be the change that I wish to see in the education

system.

Considerations for Choosing Education as a Career

If someone asked when was the first time I considered teaching as a career, I would

believe that the easier questions would be when have I ever not considered teaching as a career?

The answer to that question would be, back before I could speak or walk, and maybe during a

few midlife crisis situations. I once had an off the wall idea after watching Grey's Anatomy to

maybe choose a career in the medical field. I was going to start at the bottom, going to school to

become a CAN, and work my way up. I paid my tuition, and was getting ready to start the class,

when I just had this moment thinking, I don’t know if I can do this. Then I thought about doing

behind the scenes work in the medical field such as Billing and Coding, so I was still in that field

of work that I was interested in at that particular time.

For a while I was thinking of joining the world of Cosmetology. Hair, lashes, nails, and

all because those are things that I love getting done as often as I can. But then I realized through

friend’s experiences who were taking that road, that maybe it would be a possible side job, but

not career worthy; at least not for me.  I wanted something more. My point being that my heart

has always been in education. I am a caring, compassionate, creative, and extremely patient

individual in general. I possess many qualities we could only hope that teachers would have.

When I tell people what I am going to school for, they say it doesn't surprise them at all because

of my personality and demeanor. I feel like teaching does and has always come natural to me.  
AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL ESSAY 7

I think the moment I realized I was able to handle the responsibilities of teaching was

when I did my first two-week long substitute teaching job in a Kindergarten class. There was an

emergency situation for the teacher, which resulted in an unintentional lack of preparation for me

coming in as a substitute. Now I'm sure you can imagine how intimidating that can be; especially

when dealing with Kindergarteners. I was given the material they needed to complete every

morning from another kindergarten teacher; with minimal instructions. I was given the ability to

do my own filler activities to transition throughout the day. I realized I was excited to plan

lessons and activities. I stayed late so I was prepared, and able to teach the students confidently

and effectively. I rocked that week, and teachers started requesting me frequently to sub for

them.  It felt good to feel appreciated and requested.  

Throughout this journey, I could only hope to be rewarded with students who feel at

home in the classroom. Students who love education and look forward to coming to school every

day. Maybe with this mindset and with much effort, I can be recognized as an influential and

effective teacher.  Is teacher of the year even a thing? If it is, I want to win that every year! 

Professional Goals

After fulfilling my time here at CWI earning my Associate of Arts degree, I plan on

finishing up with my bachelor’s degree at Boise State University. At this point, I hope to be able

to teach at one of the Elementary schools near my home. If I have my pick of a grade to start off

my career in teaching, I would choose second grade. They have the basics down and are like

sponges; ready to absorb all sorts of knowledge. I think it’s the perfect age group to help my

students fall in love with education and all the possibilities it brings to their lives. Honestly

though, I will be excited with any grade I am blessed with.

Those goals are in the near, but distant future. They will need dedication and

perseverance to accomplish. I am hoping to be able to eventually quit working to focus on school

full time. That way I can be available when the time comes for student teaching. These goals are

going to consist of long days and nights. I believe it is never to early to start planning things out

such as ways of teaching that you feel are most effective, as well as the kinds of skills,

personality, or ways of teaching you want to be known for.

Works Cited

Rosenthal, B. M. (2008, January 11). Texas Illegally Excluded Thousands From Special

Education, Federal Officials Say. New York Times.

[Link]