I believe that above all things education is about reaching students and inspiring them to be life long learners.  In order to be an effective teacher who is able to accomplish this goal, I believe that there are certain attributes that must come naturally and some that must be mastered.

Teaching is an extremely demanding profession that requires teachers to give all of themselves day in and day out.  If teachers are not passionate about what they are doing, they will lack the necessary drive to keep them going everyday.  A teacher must be passionate about reaching, inspiring, and teaching children.  Doing those three things requires personality.  I believe that outstanding teachers have a warm, energetic, and stimulating personality.  These attributes allow them to turn their passion of inspiring students into a reality.  When passion is combined with skills like flexibility, organization, reflection, and observation, a teacher can be truly effective in the classroom and have a tremendous impact on students.

Throughout my four years at Illinois State University, I have worked hard to further develop these teaching skills and I feel that I am ready to inspire the students in my own classroom next year.