Running Head: AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL ESSAY

Autobiographical Essay
Corissa Johns
Professor LueLinda Egbert
EDUC 290 Education Exit Seminar
Fall 2014

AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL ESSAY
Autobiographical Essay
I suppose that in my heart of hearts, I always wanted to be a teacher. I would bring
home extra papers from elementary school to use in "my school" to teach my younger
sister. I always had a fetish for notebooks and paperclips. I also remember many a
Christmas asking for new books. My favorite store was Barnes and Nobel because it
smelled like fresh paper with the promise of adventure. As I grew older and wiser, I shied
away from teaching. I saw the way my teachers were treated and how little they were
paid. I was also terrified of the responsibility that teaching requires. I tried to avoid
teaching; yet, I could not get away from it. While finishing my Associates degree in
Graphic Design, I was pricked in my conscience that I was not doing as I ought to be. So
here I am, fulfilling my destiny.
Educational Background
Preschool was a disappointment to me. Why on earth would my parents
encourage me to go to school for half-a-day? I was a big girl and, I was ready for the
entire school experience. I wanted to go all day every day. I was ready! While telling this
to my grandmother, I was reassured that this was only temporary and soon I would be
going to school all day. Much to my relief my grandmother was right, and I began
elementary school.
I am now in my third year of college and I still love learning new things. I am
amazed and mentally stretched as I am taught. I strive to achieve my highest potential as
a human being and grow each day. I have been taught that failing is not failing if you
fail forward, the only opinion's that matters is God's opinion, that my actions and
reactions to others are remembered more than the words that I say and that sometimes

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when you receive a gift the best thing you can give in return is a thank you.
No, I did not learn all of these things in school, but I consider them to be
educational and valuable pieces of shaping my character. Too often, I believe that society
limits the boundaries of education to what can be taught in the classroom. What we
should know is that the classroom only sets foundations. It is up to the individual to take
their knowledge and apply it to the world around them. What a sad world it would be if
learning stopped when we set foot outside of the classroom door.
As much as I enjoy learning, there was one point in my life that I dreaded going to
school. I hated going to school, hated not fitting in, and hated myself. Looking back, I
think that part of the problem may have been some medical issues I had. It was a black
time for me, and I would not care to repeat it. However, as pressure creates diamonds
from coal, depression leads to a passion for life. I would have to say that as hard as junior
high was for me, I would not be who I am today if I had not of gone through it.
After junior high, I attended Twin Falls Senior High School. The majority of my
classes were advanced placement or dual credit, but I did not have much direction for
what I wanted to do with my life. The only club that I belonged to was D.E.C.A.
(Distributive Education Club of America), but even that was half way through my senior
year. I was working and had a busy life outside of school so for me school was just
school. I discovered more of my creative side with band class and creative writing, but as
graduation approached I felt lost.
After graduating from high school, I was suddenly unsure if I really wanted to go
to college after all. Through the summer, my parents encouraged me to think about
continuing my education. Finally, about a month before the fall semester of college

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started I decided that I should try my hand at Graphic Design. To tell you the truth, as
incredible as I feel about teaching was as mediocre as I was at Graphic Design. I could
tell you the principles and techniques required to be a success but my heart was never in
it. I finished the program and graduated with my Associates degree. Now what?
Well, it was the same story as before, I was at a total loss. I had a good job at the
library, and I was still living with my parents. Should I continue my education or should I
try to get a Graphic Design job? Once again, my parents encouraged me to continue my
education. My father's reasoning was that I still lived at home, had a good job, and it
would be easier for me to do more school now than it would be if I left and tried to come
back. I could see he was right but what should I do now.
I battled with myself as to what I should do. At this point, I had been teaching
Sunday school for a while and felt impressed that teaching is what I was called to do. So I
figured that it was at least a step in the right direction and if God told me that I should do
something different, there was no penalty for attempting to do my best. As my father
says, it is a lot easier to change the direction of something, if it is moving. It is a lot
harder to get something into motion, when it is at a standstill. So I enrolled in the Teacher
Education program at CSI.
In the Education program I have learned many valuable things. I learned about
several philosophies that I plan on incorporating into my classroom in the future. I have
discovered the importance of a hands-on curriculum and why it helps students to learn
more. Another valuable lesson that I have learned as a student at CSI is that sometimes it
is best to take less classes and do well, than it is to take many classes and do them poorly.
These lessons were not only valuable at the time but they will help me to avoid mistakes

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in the future.
Work History
I was taught from an early age the value of hard work. My parents instilled a work
ethic in me that has been a great asset throughout my life. I began working with my
father when I was about twelve. He did janitorial work at my mother's place of work to
bring in extra income. I was given the task of cleaning the bathrooms and was paid for
my work. Later on, I helped my dad mow lawns during the summer and was ecstatic at
earning a paycheck. Most of this money went into a savings account for college, and a
little went into my pocket for items to buy. In high school I worked for my mom's
business, an accounting firm, running errands during tax season. While working at this
job I learned important aspects of time management.
The summer I turned sixteen, I thought that I was old enough to get a real job. I
handed out applications and, eventually, landed an interview at the Twin Falls Public
Library. Two weeks later, I was hired part-time to be a page and shelve books in the youth
section. Six months later, I applied and was accepted for a circulation position.
In the circulation position, I was supervised by Havilah Lyon. Under her
supervision, I really blossomed. There is something to be said for excellent leadership. I
hope that someday, I can be as great of a leader to my classroom as she was to me. She
sharp in her criticism, but you knew that she had your best interests at heart. Sadly she
took another job at a different library. Today, I continue to work at the public library, and
I always try to put forth my best when I am at work.
These lessons that I have learned from being a part of the work force will
influence my job performance as a future teacher. These attributes such as being a hard

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worker, being on time, time management, and understanding the value of good leadership
are attributes that I believe all teachers should have. I believe that since I have learned
these attributes early I will be easy to hire as a future teacher and that I will do a great job
at being a teacher as well.
Service and/or Extracurricular Activities
My extracurricular activities have mostly revolved around music. During the
summer between eighth and ninth grade, I joined the Twin Falls Municipal Band. I have
spent many hot slow summer evenings playing music with this group. Since that summer,
there has only been a couple of summers that I have not played with the City Band due to
work conflicts. During that same year, I also joined the CSI symphonic band and took it
for no credit. I would have to lie if I said that I did not enjoy being in it. I quickly became
one of their best percussion players, and I am asked when I am going to join them again.
Unfortunately, I had to stop playing with them during the last year of high school because
I had so much going on that I was too busy. I do know; however that as soon as life slows
down a little I plan on joining them once again.
Right now though, work and school are mostly my life. I enjoy crafting and other
do-it-yourself projects, when I have a moment or two. I have a blog that has over three
thousand page views, and counting, and a small Etsy shop that keeps me on my toes.
Also, I teach a Sunday school class at my local church. If Im not doing one thing I am
usually doing five.
As a future teacher I believe that it is important to expand your horizons or
simply put, to learn to do things that I havent done before. As a future teacher I would
want to have experience in many areas and the only way I can do that is by exploring

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other activities. I can explore other activities by reading about them, studying them, or
making those activities a hobby in my spare time. I truly believe that if you stop learning
and growing then you must be dead. Each and every day should be an opportunity to
discover something new, a maxim of teaching and a maxim of my life as well.
Reasons for choosing Education as a Career
I choose education because it is the best thing to be doing with my life. I have
tried to pursue other paths, but I keep being lead back to education. Education is my
calling, and it is what I am supposed to be doing.
I have some experience in teaching as I teach a Sunday school, but I know that it
is vastly different from teaching in a public school. I have had the opportunity to be a
volunteer in an elementary classroom for a little bit and I just love being there. It is like
finding that perfect jacket that fits you just right, that is what teaching is for me, a perfect
fit.
I have read many different books on teaching, and how to teach but I believe that
teaching is something that you are born with. Reading and studying teaching can help
you be a better teacher but, if you do not have an innate sense for it, I am not sure that
you really could ever succeed at it. Teachers are born not created and I am one of them.
Another reason that I choose education as a career is that I want to impact lives. I
want to influence peoples futures for the better. I want to be the kind of teacher that
students look back at and say she changed my life. I am very passionate about helping
and teaching students. I refuse to sit idly by and watch things remain unchanged when I
know that they can be better.
Professional Goals

AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL ESSAY
My professional goal is to become a teacher of leaders. I want to be a teacher that
inspires children to be lifelong learners, leaders of countries, and to teach future
generations the lessons of the past so that they can supersede the accomplishments of
their parents. I want to instill lessons that students will remember for the rest of their
lives. I want to be the embodiment of what it means to be a teacher.
The reason that I want to do this is because I understand the power that education
can have on a persons life. My great-grandmother was told that she couldnt continue
school past sixth grade. She is a very kind and loving person but she works hard. I love
her dearly but she really could have benefited from more education. I dont want my
children or the future children of America to have to work hard when they could work
smart. I dont want them to have the same self-esteem issues nor the same monetary
issues that my great-grandmother has. My wish is for each and every individual student
to be the best that they can be. I want my future student to enjoy life to the fullest.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I have a passion and desire for teaching that I am not sure I could
really explain on paper. I am confident that this is what I am supposed to be doing with
my life. Teaching still scares me because I know the potential impact that I could have on
other peoples lives, but I know that if I do my best and work hard I will not fail.