Running head: AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL 1

Autobiographical

Wierschem, Nikeysha

Instructor: Dr. Egbert

EDUC. 201: Foundations of Education

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Introduction

This essay is to inform the audience about the impact education has had on my

personal life and the impact I want to make in future students lives. Throughout each

topic I will discuss my educational background, work history, extracurricular activities,

professional goals, and how all of these different experiences have contributed to my

development as a professional educator. I will also discuss my reasoning for choosing

education as a career. Each topic is to demonstrate my knowledge that I have

accumulated over the previous years from my experiences as a student and leader.

Overall, my goal is to present different ideas that have positively impacted my

development as a future educator.

Educational Background

During elementary, I attended the same school district kindergarden-12th grade. All

grades I attended public school, except for 3rd and 4th grade, I attended a charter school.

After graduating high school in 2015, I attended my first semester in college at the

College of Western Idaho. The following semester of school, I transferred to CWIs sister

school and currently attend College of Southern Idaho. I am currently completing my last

year at CSI and will receive my Associates degree in Elementary Education in spring

2018.

My educational background has contributed to my development as a professional

educator by giving me the opportunity to experience different teaching styles. I have

experienced a diverse amount of teachers through my education. I have witnessed

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teachers that have shown leadership qualities, while on the other side of the spectrum, I

have witnessed teachers that have lacked authoritative skills. This will help me as an

instructor because I have experienced diverse cultures and environments. This will allow

me to be open-minded and understanding of students from different backgrounds. have

learned techniques to give and receive respect as a teacher. It will allow classroom

management to be a breeze and to build relationships with my students.

Work History

My work history includes the past 4 summers working at my Dads company for

data cabling called CommTek Solutions. My responsibilities as a data technician include

grounding the wire, routing, and keeping a clean and safe environment. Another seasonal

part-time job I had was a sales associate at Charlotte Russe in the Boise Mall. I had this

job for almost a year. My responsibilities included to assist customers, customer service,

front desk work, organizing, and keeping a clean environment.

These experiences helped contribute to my development as a professional

educator by giving me the opportunity to learn different skills that a teacher will need.

Skills such as keeping a smiling face, even when handling an upset customer. I can apply

different skills to teaching such as being organized, making the work environment

enjoyable, and how to come up with a last minute solutions. This will help me to keep a

positive attitude during stressful times and to make a safe environment for my future

students.

Service and Extracurricular Activities

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During school I was involved in cheerleading for 7 years, during these last 2

years, I got the opportunity to cheer at CSI. I am currently involved in different

leadership groups such as NSLS, TIPPS Leadership Program, and being an Ambassador

for CSI. Other sports I have played are soccer, basketball, and softball. Other services I

was involved in was the National Jr Riffle Association, Girl Scouts, and National Jr

Honor Society. Throughout my education, these different sports and services have helped

shape me into the person I am currently.

These activities have contributed to my development as a professional educator

by helping me learn leadership skills, resilience, dedication, and hard work. Though at

times when these activities have challenged myself, they have taught me more than just

the skill or task itself. The lesson inside each of these experiences have been powerful in

ways that have shaped who I am as a person today. This will help me in my future

classroom by leading students into being successful, dedicating outside class time for

lesson plans, and always finding a solution that works best for every student. These skills

will help show my students that hard work is rewarding and how to stay focused during

difficult task.
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Reasons for Choosing Education as a Career

I first considered education as a career from a school course called Work Base

Learning. This allowed students to step inside a classroom and develop a deeper

understanding of education. I enjoyed the leadership aspect of education and the result of

impacting a students life in one way or another. I want to be that outlet for students and

to be their role model. Though some intrinsic rewards are beneficial as a teacher like the

time off and benefits, but I am looking forward to more of the extrinsic rewards education

has to offer.

Other careers I have considered was getting a bachelors degree in business. I

decided that was not that best fit for my lifestyles after working for my Dad during the

summers. It helped me realize my passion for influencing and educating future

generations. The idea of helping my Dad manage his business was not my desire, but his

dream to carry on his business for future generations. The rewards I anticipate from

teaching are things such as helping students grow, witnessing their light bulb moment,

and the satisfaction of knowing I made a positive impact. Not only having the extrinsic

rewards, but having the intrinsic rewards such as having holidays, weekends, and

summers off.

Professional Goals

Long-term goals I have is to receive my Bachlers degree in Elementary

Education and have a minor in History. After graduating from CSI with my Associates

degree, I plan to apply for the Idaho State University Education Program. I plan to stay
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local at CSI and go through the outreach program. I intend to achieve these goals one

semester at a time. Another way to help me achieve my long-term goals is to set

deadlines for myself for things such as applying for ISU and setting up a date for the

interview process.

Short-term goals I have for myself is to receive my Associates degree in

Elementary Education. I plan to retake my PRAXIS Test before next semester and sign

up for ISU classes through CSI to start the process of my Bachelors degree. I intend to

achieve these goals one week at a time. I plan to study each individual content of the

PRAXIS Test one at a time and to take the individual content one test at a time. Instead of

the combined three content test. Steps I will have to take is talking to an adviser about

classes needed to transfer to ISU and studying for the PRAXIS Test.

Conclusion

Overall this essay was to inform the audience on my educational background,

work history, extracurricular activities, and how these assets have contributed to my

development as a professional educator. This essay also informed the audience on my

reasoning for choosing education as a career and professional goals I have set for myself.

This has helped me organize my plan for the future and have a better understanding on

the skills I obtain as a future educator. It gives me a better understanding on the skills I

need to improve on and the steps needed to do so.