When I was in second grade, my parents trash picked an old teacher’s desk and student’s desk for me. I would have my sister sit in it and take the tests I made. These are just a few of so many people in my life who have supported me throughout my journey of wanting to become a teacher. An aunt of mine is a teacher in the district I went to school in. She would let me help her grade things and as I got older, she invited me to come into her classroom to help out. She gave me the actual experience at such a young age that it helped me know that this is, for sure, what I wanted to do. My friends have also encouraged me to pursue my teaching career. Whether it be my friends throughout high school who always said how good I was with kids, or my friends from Millersville who motivate me to give it my all in this field.
I have briefly learned about theories and philosophers in high school and I have taken a course here at Millersville on it. I found it very difficult to following along about philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle because I was not interested in it. So, once we started talking about theorists in education classes, I began to get nervous because I knew I didn’t enjoy learning about it. I ended up finding myself following the pedagogies of Vygotsky. I like his views on the Zone of Proximal Development. It is important that we are able to meet the needs of all students.
Not only have my friends and family motivated me to get me where I am today, my professors at Millersville have thought me so much and helped me grow immensely. I find it so beneficial when my professors share about their own experiences. Each professor has their own experience as teachers for early or middle education, as well as being a college professor. Hearing the different points of view, and being able to go out into the field since freshman year helps you get a feel of whether or not you’re meant for this major, and I appreciate that.
Cherry, K. (2019, July 31). How Vygotsky Defined the Zone of Proximal Development. Retrieved February 21, 2020, from https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-the-zone-of-proximal-development-2796034