The most powerful weapon does not shoot bullets...

Nelson Mandela states “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” It is this core belief that continues to empower me to work with children regardless of their background or socio-economic status. I believe that all children have the ability to learn; that it is my job as an educator to navigate through students’ fears, behaviors and anything else that might hold them back to help them achieve success both in the classroom and in life. I believe one of the most essential roles, as an educator, is to have the ability to develop positive relationships with students. Without the trust and rapport that is built between a student and teacher, it will never matter what you are trying to teach. Students want to learn from teachers that they know care about them. Investing in students is more than just showing up to class and delivering lessons; its knowing what makes a kid tick, understanding their triggers and their fears, learning what encourages them to try harder and persist when they want to give up, and doing so in a way that is non-intrusive, within professional boundaries and consistent. I believe that it is my job to model appropriate behavior and actions that I would want my own children to emulate. Exhibiting character traits of integrity and fairness plays in vital role in how children respond in a classroom. Children learn less from what you say and more from what they witness. This is one reason why I believe that a safe, consistent and structured environment with fair and equitable guidelines promotes academic results. I believe that its okay to be disappointed with actions or behaviors of a student, but that one mistake does not define who that student is as a person. A student that at has least one caring role model in their life who will never give up on them will eventually bounce back to achieve success. I work hard everyday to be that person so I can change the world.