This autobiographical essay discusses the author's journey to becoming an educator. From an early age, the author enjoyed playing school and always wanted to be a teacher. In 4th grade, the author had an inspiring teacher, Mrs. Berberick, who reinforced this goal. After some detours in other careers like pharmacy technician and waitressing, the author returned to school to earn a teaching degree. The author's goals are to graduate with a bachelor's in elementary education in 2015, maintain a high GPA, and land a teaching job after graduation through volunteer work to build experience. The desire to positively impact students and provide them with a quality education that the author did not always receive has remained constant.

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Autobiographical Essay
Kasey Graves
Carol Billing
Education 201
Fall 2011

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Autobiographical Essay
Introduction
There was no single moment in my life that triggered my ambition to want to become an
educator. There were countless days when I would play school with my sister, but when I say
„play‟ what I really should say is that I was always the teacher while she was always the student.
Throughout my childhood when asked “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I always
respond with something very ambiguous like a doctor or a lawyer, but I always knew that was
just to get people off my case. I was, I am destined to do something even greater. During the
fourth grade I had one inspirational teacher. She could make any subject appealing to me, which
I will admit is quite an accomplishment. After leaving the fourth grade I knew exactly what I
wanted to be, I wanted to be Mrs. Berberick. I knew I was not capable of being her replica but I
wanted to imitate her as closely as possible. A teacher who can make a difference, a teacher who
can get each child involved, a teacher who is excited about the materials being taught. Those are
just a few of Mrs. Berbericks wonderful qualities that I yearned for. I continued my education in
the Challis. I reached a point my sophomore year when I realized the teachers were no longer
providing me with materials that I didn‟t already know. I worked nonstop from then until the
middle of my junior year in an independent school program and I graduated high school early.
Educational Background
It all began at the age of five. I entered my kindergarten classroom in Salmon Idaho with
Mrs. Casterson as my very first teacher. The first few years are kind of a blur. I can only
remember bits and pieces of actual class time. By middle school my family had moved to

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Challis Idaho. Not a big change just an hour up the river. School in Challis was a completely
different environment then it was in Salmon. The town was much smaller. I finished high
school in Challis and headed to Boise the day after graduation. I attended Boise State for two
years. I was indeed enrolled in class, and paying a nice tuition but I was not absorbing the
information. College for me was a great way to meet new friends. I decided to take some time
off, or at least to give my wallet a little break. A year later I decided a technical school would be
best for me. Nine months later I was certified to be a pharmacy technician. After one month of
interning I once again decided, this was not for me. I took a year off to think about what it was
that I have wanted to do. What was it when I was younger and I was asked “What are you going
to be when you grow up?” My answer was always the same…”A teacher!” Finally I had it. It
was time to go back to school. This time a little older, a little wiser, and finally a „decided‟
major.
I am currently a sophomore at the College of Western Idaho. I am taking classes that
only apply to my major and I have enjoyed every minute of being back in school. I am in my
fourth semester into school and not slowing down. Do it big I always say and that is what I am
going to do.
When I think about the reasons that I have decided to become an educator I think about
the many things that have influenced this decision. First of all as a child my favorite game was
to play teacher with my siblings. I was always the teacher, never the student so that was my first
hint. Secondly, when I was in the fourth grade I had the most amazing teacher ever, Mrs.

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Berberick. She had a way of making every subject appealing to me.I actually wanted to be her in
the fourth grade and after watching her for nine months I knew, I was going to be a teacher.
Work History
I would have to say that my first job was babysitting. I say this because I made money
even though it would probably be highly frowned upon now considering the hours I worked, and
the amount of money I made. I loved to play games with children, teach them new things and I
felt like I was making a difference in their lives. This has influenced my decision to become an
educator because I loved that feeling and I knew that I would want to feel like I was making a
difference later in life.
When I filled out my first W2 I was employed as a gas station attendant at my
grandparents little shop Kimble Oil. My job was to fill cars up with gas for about five dollars an
hour. At the time I thought it was pretty awesome. I was making money and I thought “I could
do this forever”. The thought was short lived. After one summer I knew that I did not want to
retire a gas station attendant. I was not inspiring people, or helping influence any significant
decision they were making. The most I ever did was talk someone into getting premium gas
instead of the regular unleaded.
I was eager to finish high school and pursue a higher education. When I first arrived in
Boise I decided that I should apply at every daycare. I knew that I wanted to work with children
and I assumed that the experience would be very rewarding. I quickly discovered that day care is
not the same thing as school. I was not teaching anyone anything. My job was to change
diapers, watch the children play, and then prepare snacks and lunch for them. This job actually

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turned my away from the education field for about three years. While I respect the service
daycares provide, I knew I needed something just a little more rewarding.
I decided I wanted to make quick cash each and every night so what did I turn to? The
classic college job, I began to serve tables. I love it, but it is certainly not a career. I do not see
myself retiring off the wages I make, I will never receive benefits, and I will never have a
consistent schedule. This has all been an eye opener because I want more. I love fine wine, and
food and I love to share my knowledge and passion for those two things with my tables but I
would rather share information that is going to shape our future. I want a consistent schedule so I
can have a family, and have the ability to spend time with my family.
Service and Extracurricular Activities
In high school I was involved in many clubs, organizations, and played every sport that
was available to us girls in our small town of nine hundred people. I was a member of
envirothon, student council, and business professionals of America. I was selected my
sophomore year to attend a weekend conference called HOBY where they recognized the
number one leader from every school. During my junior year I was elected to attend Girls State
over the summer to learn more about the United States government. I participated in volleyball,
basketball, and track through high school. I also was quite the volunteer in high school. At first
it was not by choice, but after I gave back to the community I decided I wanted to do more so I
started calling out BINGO at the senior citizen center once a week.
I ran for a position on our student council in high school because I wanted to make a
difference in our school. I wanted to be able to participate in the votes, and decisions that would

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affect my school years. I also wanted my opportunity to sit with the school board and be the
voice of our school. The experience inspired me to be involved in the school system forever.
Student council made me realize how much I appreciate the school system.
Volunteering to the community has enriched my life in many ways. I feel like I am
making a difference every time that I go out and give a little back to the great community I live
in. Something as silly as calling out BINGO number can really make a difference in somebody‟s
day, possibly even life. One of the reasons that I want to become a teacher is because I want to
give back to our community. I want to be a person that people recognize and say “She made a
difference”. The glory of it is very appealing, and it also puts the biggest smile on my heart to
know that I am helping someone.
Reasons for Choosing Education as a Career
When most kids grow up they want to be doctors, astronauts, or famous, when I was
growing up my answer was always “When I grow up I am going to be a teacher.” There have
been so many instances that have helped shape this decision. When I was a young child and my
sister was born I just loved to teach her new things. In fact, my favorite “game” to play with her
was school. I asked for materials like markers, pencils, and workbooks for Christmas and my
birthday just so that we could play. I always enjoyed being the teacher. In the fourth grade I had
the most amazing teacher. She was creative and really enhanced my desire to learn. I remember
almost everything about that class. What I remember most is that she was a great teacher, so
creative, and energetic. For those nine months she was my hero and I wanted to be just like her.

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I made the decision to become a teacher two years ago. After a few failed years in
college, and the glam of serving tables wore off I knew that it was time for change. I had my
daughter and then I decided that I wanted to become a teacher. Purely for selfish reasons, I
wanted to have as much time with my daughter as possible. This past semester has really
changed my attitude towards why I want to become a teacher. Now I want to become a teacher
because I want to make a difference and I know that I can. I see so much potential in our
children today and I want to provide them with the opportunity to grow and strive in the ways
that they are capable of. I am energetic and passionate when it comes to education so I know I
will make a good educator and I strive to be the best because unfortunately many students today
are not succeeding through no fault of their own
As a teacher I think there are so many rewards, some are obvious and some you don‟t
expect. Firstly, I will be rewarded the gift of time. I know that I will have a heavy load and lots
of take home work but the point is that I am going to be home with my children more than most
parents with careers. I will get to watch my students grow and learn; I will assist them in
reaching their highest intellect. I also think that I will be rewarding myself with the gift of
lifelong learning. To be a teacher you should stay current on the way things are taught, as well
as what is taught. As a student who just loves school I look forward to the idea that I will
constantly be pursuing my education.
Professional Goals
I have always found that setting goals helps me to achieve things. This can be the
smallest task like “wash the car by Sunday”, or something greater like “graduate college by

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2014”. I set goals for myself because it holds me accountable to them. I also do my best not to
set unrealistic goals so that I do not disappoint myself. However, I set goals that challenge me.
If we do not challenge ourselves then we can‟t grow. My long term goal is that I continue my
education for life and do more than just teach. I want to get a doctrine degree and teach one day
at a college, or maybe even be a highly active member in the school board. Which of those two
things I have not made my mind on yet, I think experience and time will be the determining
factors. Both my long and short term goals have mini-goals that I have set for myself encompass
the larger ones as a whole. I strive to achieve my goals because being an overly competitive
person I will not be satisfied until I have.
As a whole my short term goal is to graduate college with bachelors in elementary
education by the spring of 2015. This means that my goal is to graduate CWI by the spring of
2013. To achieve this I have carefully planned out my schedule the past few years to make sure
that everything lines up correctly with Boise State University and all my courses will transfer.
My other goal is to maintain a good GPA. I have only received one B in my college career and I
would like it if I could continue with just the one B. I take great pride in my school work and I
feel good seeing the time and effort I put into a class reflected in my grades
To land a job after I have completed my program. This is where things may get a little
frustrating. I feel like when I have completed my program that the next, and possibly one of the
hardest things will be actually getting a job. Being a newbie is not the boldest thing that stands
out on a resume. In order to achieve this I plan on brightening up my resume before I even
begin the job hunt. I plan on doing this by getting involved. Just by completing my observation

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hours I feel like I have established myself in some ways to the school. I think the most important
thing I will do is to continue to volunteer in the schools.
Conclusion
There are so many things in life that are constantly changing. We change our friends,
schools, homes, jobs, and so much more. One thing in my life has stayed constant, my desire to
become a teacher. Feeling like my education could have been better has always bothered me. I
want to teach children and I want them to never feel let down by the education that they receive.
The ability to choose my own curriculum, and create my syllabus in a way that I think children
will appreciate excites me. I want do something for the community. One day I want a fellow
student to contact me and tell me that I am there Mrs. Berberick. I absolutely want to put the
tray down for good and never have to serve anything other than school work to students. No
more being called “excuse me waiter”, but being called what I was destined to be “Mrs. Graves”.