More Than Just a Writing Assignment...

I love working with children in any way that I can, but there is something special about a classroom that really shows students as unique individuals that are growing and learning each day. I think it is amazing to watch students struggle with different concepts or skills and to be with them each step of the way when they finally just get it.

I love having the opportunity to help students grow academically, but I equally enjoy helping students grow as emotional beings by tapping into the personal traits they possess long before they step into my classroom. I work with children almost each day of the week, whether at my job at a preschool, through field experience hours, or babysitting, so I have multiple opportunities to watch kids of all ages grow into “little adults”.

One student that really caught my attention this week is a learner who performs at a slower pace and lower academic levels than her peers. I worked with her individually to help her complete an writing assignment that the rest of the class completed a couple days ago. While writing was a slow process for her and I could tell that she struggled through the work, the determination that this third grader showed me was astounding.

Physically writing and spelling was difficult enough for this child, but if she noticed a line or sentence needed to be written a little bigger or a tiny bit straighter she was immediately correcting it. She paid great attention to detail and showed me that her work was important to her. I think many of us would want to hurry through an assignment and get back to what the rest of the class was doing, but this student was set on achieving her goal of having a completed writing assignment that was written neatly and in straight lines.

The writing assignment we worked on was about students’ dreams and how they would work to reach them. She lit up as I talked to her about her dreams and plans - she wanted to become a veterinarian and rescue as many animals as she could. The career path that this eight-year-old girl is working towards is awesome, but what really tugged on my heartstrings was the fact that through her hardworking attitude, persistentence, and dedication to one single assignment, I knew this girl was going to go places if she put her mind to it.

If this student can work so hard and with such purpose, I am sure that she will reach all her life goals and dreams no matter how they change or transform. Seeing this “little adult” with such commitment to a simple elementary writing assignment made me stop and think about my dream. If I am being completely honest with you guys, (as I sit with bags under my eyes in the library on yet another late night) it has gotten pretty difficult to keep up a positive and hardworking attitude as I work towards the month of May - which seems so close and so so so far at the same time. I’ve got about a thousand and a half things to do before I am handed a degree, a teaching license, and (hopefully) the keys to a classroom - all within less than a year's time. Although I have been back in school barely over a month, I am already drained and at times question why I chose this profession. However, this thirty minute interaction with such an inspiring student reminded me why I chose to become a teacher. This half hour really revived my drive to keep chugging along until May, as difficult as the days, weeks, and months may turn out to be.

Even though she probably won’t ever come across this post, or even remember the short time we worked together, I want to say thank you to the little lady who inspired me to keep working towards my dream at the exact moment I needed it. Keep chugging along, never give up, and don't ever let anyone tear you down.

The world is really yours, little lady!