“People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it. And what you do simply proves what you believe”

― Simon Sinek, Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action

When someone asks me what I do for a living, the answer is automatic.  I am a math teacher.  The next question is always what subject I teach.  I teach Algebra 1 and Geometry.  This usually elicits the response of “oh bless you!” or “Geometry was my favorite math class” or “Algebra  was the worst!”  The “how” of my profession is not ever addressed in these conversations because quite frankly that is not that interesting for those who are not educators.  That brings me to the fact that those who are curious don’t typically ask why I teach.  Since my time as an undergraduate student or the few times I was seeking new employment, I have not given my “why” a lot of thought.  

Why did I choose this profession?  I was told by a few of my professors when I was pursuing an engineering degree, that I had a talent for tutoring my peers.  I was surprised they noticed.  My peers provided some feedback to provoke those critiques from my teachers.  It planted a seed.  It took until my first Chemical Engineering course for me to see the writing on the wall.  I was a wife and mother of 3 small children at the time.  My peers were studying for hours.  These were hours I did not have.  I changed paths at this time.  I loved math and science.  I love learning.  I love collaborating with my peers.  Teaching seemed a natural switch of majors.  In that switch, I found I loved witnessing children learn and grow in their knowledge.  It is a privilege to be able to do that.  And I am good at connecting with my learners.  

This program is helping me become an even better educator.  It is also teaching me that my true role is something new and uncomfortable.  I want to guide and facilitate learning.  I want to share in my students’ successes.  My students should take control and work with me to do this.  I feel that the ADL program and the COVA approach let me get a point of view of what I want my own students to experience within my classroom. 

Challenges have been many during my first 2 courses in the program.  Having that ownership and voice through authentic learning experiences have proven to be so impactful.  The struggles with how to approach the assignments have been stressful, but with the help of my peers through our learning communities and a lot of reflection time, I have found that I can tackle anything.  These experiences have also pushed me out of my comfort zone.  I am finding that I have more confidence.  I can see myself as a leader.  My opinions have value and others will listen to them.  This is huge for me.  I have always been a great team player, but never the leader.  I want to be a leader.  I want to be able to represent my “why.”  I think people will be inspired by it.  And together we can create change.

The best way for me to represent my “why” at this time in my ADL journey is my ePortfolio.  I am excited to share my work for others to see and give me feedforward.  I know that by allowing this I can only become better and my vision can have a greater effect on my community.  My intentions are to continue to utilize the platform that my ePortfolio gives me.  I want to grow as a writer, something I never thought I would call myself.  My classmates have provided so many new ideas that I want to implement in my own classrooms.  I hope to reflect on these trials through my blog.  

The most valuable lesson I have learned is that I made the right choice for myself.  While I have toyed with the idea of a master’s degree for years now, this was the time I was supposed to get it and this was the program.  I will strive to make changes that will go beyond my immediate community.  I am optimistic that my future as an educator will be much brighter with my decision to return to school.

ReferencesTEDx Talks. (2009, September 28). Start with why — how great leaders inspire action | Simon Sinek | TEDxPugetSound [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4ZoJKF_VuA&feature=youtu.be