I am a senior majoring in Liberal Studies with a concentration in Special Education in the Cormier Honors College at Longwood University. In addition to the Cormier Honors College, I am actively involved in numerous clubs and organizations on campus, such as Alpha Sigma Tau, Kappa Delta Pi, Lancer Productions, and more. Along with my special education endorsement, I am also working on earning my elementary education endorsement to work with elementary school students.
Ever since I was a little girl, I always dreamed about being a teacher. I would use my old workbooks and notes to teach my stuffed animals language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. As I got older, I explored alternative career paths but later realized that teaching was my calling in life. Although I knew I wanted to be a teacher, I did not know what type of teacher I wanted to be until I was a junior in high school. During the first semester of my junior year, my Teachers for Tomorrow class took a field trip to a local elementary school and observed a special education class. This trip introduced me to the world of special education, and a few days later, I interacted with the students in the special education classroom at my high school with a cooking activity. This interaction showed me how much I enjoy working with students with special needs, and that is when I decided to become a special education teacher.
Once I complete my undergraduate program, I plan to teach at a school district in the surrounding Richmond area and pursue my master’s degree in special education.