I’ve always hated kids; growing up, I never wanted to be around them, wanted nothing to do with them. But after landing my first job during the summer after my first year of high school made me realize that I wanted to become a teacher.
During middle school I attended an after school program called “Westbay”, they would help me out with homework, study, and prepare me for my education. This program was open to hundreds of kids, all in a tight space that could barely fit all of us. Growing up in an environment closely surrounded by other kids that were 5-6 years younger than me, I created a deep hatred for them.
I hated the fact they wouldn’t stop crying and whining, and that they would beg for things they couldn’t have along with their stubborn and ignorant attitude, and how they treated adults. These experiences caused me to hold that hatred with me all the way to freshman year of high school.
It was near the end of the school year and I needed a summer job. I talked to the mentors for job offers and they offered me a position at the program. I rejected at first because I knew I had to work with kids but they kept persisting, until I said yes because I realized how good the pay was.
The first month I would avoid all the kids and stay in the kitchen always telling myself I was “only doing it for the money”. When I went out one time during lunch to supervise kids, I accidentally stepped on someone’s sand castle and they threw sand at me and threw a tantrum for an hour. I had to apologize to the parent and her son.
Another time during the first month, my supervisor asked me to go out and watch kids again in the playground. After sitting outside supervising, a little boy came up to me and sat right next to me. I didn’t know how to interact with him so I just sat there in silence until he said, “Do you like Five Nights at Freddy’s?” We sat together for the rest of lunch talking about what was the best character and why it was the coolest. That moment is stuck in my head because It was the first time I was able to connect to someone so much younger than me.
In the second month of summer, I found myself in charge of a group of 4th and 5th graders who boldly labeled themselves the “coolest kids.” Truth be told, they were really stubborn and resistant to listening at first. Yet, through consistent conversations and genuine connections, they transformed into an unexpectedly funny and endearing bunch.
It was with this group that the realization hit me, I wanted to become a teacher. Their constant requests for help and openness about their problems brought me immense joy, knowing I had become someone they could truly rely on.
I plan to return every summer, not only to reconnect with the kids I’ve grown close to but also forge new bonds. It’s a journey that has driven me to pursue a career as a teacher. Going back every summer and spending time with kids has been really important to me. For example, when I see a kid finally get something that was tough for them, it’s not just exciting for me but also shows how teaching can make a big difference. These moments, where we connect and they learn something new, are the reasons why I want to be a teacher helping kids learn and grow.
