Why I want to be a teacher

Brynn Brazukas

2020 VTFT II

Mrs. Nardelli

My parent’s guidance started me on a journey that led me to desire a career in teaching.

At an early age, my parents instilled in me that holding a job is essential in developing many life

skills. The first opportunity I had for employment was babysitting at the age of eleven. Since

then, all of my jobs, including babysitting, coaching and lifeguarding at the neighborhood pool,

have entailed working with children. Although some may consider having to teach five swim

lessons before working a six hour lifeguard shift to be the perfect example of torture, I consider

it a blessing. The idea of spending many hours every single day with up to fifty children only

brings me joy. My jobs helped me not only find my passion, but helped me learn how to love

the people and children around me. Working with kids has taught me responsibility,

compassion, patience, and it helped me find a passion I may never otherwise have found.

I first met a very special teacher, Mrs. Nardelli, during my sophomore year. She was my

Honors English teacher. During that time, I was not very involved in school, and I had no idea

that VTFT existed. She was that person who I knew I could go to for anything whenever I

needed help, and she is the one who handed me the application for Virginia Teachers for

Tomorrow. VTFT is specifically designed to prepare high school students for a future career in

education. This innovative class has changed my life’s focus as it has helped me discover my

passion for becoming a teacher in an elementary classroom.

During my junior year, I worked as a teacher’s assistant in a first grade classroom at a

local elementary school. This responsibility was not only an academic high school class, but it

was another job for which I was held accountable. While I loved all of the students, one boy

made a special impression on me. He often arrived at school hungry and frequently did not
Why I want to be a teacher

Brynn Brazukas

2020 VTFT II

Mrs. Nardelli

have food in his lunch box. Each day, the teacher ensured that he had access to food and I

quickly realized the huge impact that teachers have on children’s lives. I focused my effort and

energy toward my assigned internship, and it was ​always ​the best part of my day. Happy or sad,

I loved helping the students learn and become smarter and kinder people.

For my final test grade, I was required to design and implement a lesson plan based on

a given objective. As I was standing at the front of the classroom, I realized that THIS was

where I belonged. My heart beamed with delight as I saw my students’ faces light up with

excitement, not only because they had fun participating in the lesson, but they also understood

the concept I was teaching.

This year, I had two opportunities to work with children in a classroom setting. First, I

was in a second grade classroom, and although the content and objectives are different from

first grade, the enthusiasm I felt working with my little friends was exactly the same. Second, I

had the very special opportunity to have a kindergarten class join us in our high school, once a

week, all year long! I was assigned four students who I came to know very well and I gained

experience with creating more lesson plans for students. The very first day the kindergartners

came in, I welcomed them with a fun and unique fishing activity where the class became

acquainted with each other. I created and taught many other lesson plans, but the very best part

for me was interacting with the students and seeing them learn what I taught them.

I feel that being a teacher is the most rewarding job anyone can experience. As a

teacher, you have the opportunity to improve someone else's day just by simply doing your job.

Not every child has a warm and welcoming place to go home to everyday. Not every child gets

three meals a day. Not every child is properly loved. Being a teacher means being a mentor, a
Why I want to be a teacher

Brynn Brazukas

2020 VTFT II

Mrs. Nardelli

person of guidance, and a supporter. ​I truly believe that the experiences you have, the people

you encounter, and the relationships you create mold the person you become. Growing up, I

have met many faces and have made many friendships along the way, but the children I have

encountered are, by far, the most influential people in my life.

I want to be a teacher because I want to be the person responsible for shaping a child's

life, I want to help shape children into good citizens and people, and I want to make sure they

have a warm place to come to everyday with a welcoming atmosphere. To me, children are one

of the world’s greatest wonders. They are growing and learning every minute of the day and that

provides endless opportunities to impact their minds, hearts, and souls. Guiding kids to find

self-confidence through enriching them with knowledge and life skills, while teaching them to be

a kind and loving force in this world, has taught me to be a better person. In helping my kids

become better human beings, I have become a better human being.

Why I want to be a teacher

Brynn Brazukas

2020 VTFT II

Mrs. Nardelli