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Student Teaching: Thomas Jefferson High School, West
Jefferson Hills School District (10th Grade
Government, 11th Grade U.S. History), Spring
2011
Field Experiences: Peters Township Middle School, Bethel
Park High School
Goal: To obtain a position as a Social Studies teacher
in a middle school or high school in southwestern
Pennsylvania.
The path to becoming a teacher has not been an easy or
direct one for me. Ten years ago, as a senior in high
school with the world at my fingertips, I chose to
attend Grove City College, renowned for its competitive
admissions process and rigorous class selection. My goal
was to attend law school after obtaining an
undergraduate degree, and I fulfilled that dream when I
was offered a full academic scholarship to the Duquesne
University School of Law. As a law student, I put all of
my time and effort into my studies and extra-curricular
activities, and upon graduation I was offered a position
as an associate litigation attorney in a
Pittsburgh-based law firm. It did not take long,
however, for me to realize that I was not fulfilling my
true purpose in life. I felt as though I had a calling,
but that by practicing law, I was failing to fulfill
that calling. After much reflection, I realized what I
knew in my heart all along – I belong in the world of
education.
Upon returning to Duquesne University to obtain my M.S.
Ed. I immediately knew I had made the right decision.
For the first time in my life, I felt like what I was
doing would make a positive difference in others’ lives.
As I completed the academic portion of the M.S. Ed.
program, I thrived and excelled, earning a 4.0 grade
point average. This past semester, I student taught at
Thomas Jefferson High School. The experience solidified
my belief that education is my true calling, as I found
myself helping my students to grow and succeed over the
past 15 weeks. Student teaching has truly been one of
the most rewarding experiences of my life.
Even now, when the climate for teachers seems to have
taken a turn for the worse, I am resolute to continue on
my path. My experiences have helped me to develop a
philosophy of teaching which includes a student-centered
learning environment in which students can engage in
meaningful and authentic tasks, a strategy of
differentiation in the classroom which allows students
of all ability levels and backgrounds to succeed, and
classroom management strategies which provide clear
standards of conduct in order to allow all students to
feel comfortable in their learning environment.
I believe that my hard work and dedication to both my
own studies at Duquesne and to my students at TJHS make
me worthy of teaching in my own classroom. I have
received nothing short of the highest praise from both
of my cooperating teachers and from my university
supervisor, and I am proud of the work I have done.
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