I am currently attending Valparaiso University and I am studying secondary education and history. To be entirely honest, I am not sure where my desire for teaching originated. Maybe it was when I helped my little sister with a math problem, or the time I taught my friend to play baseball. For all I know, my aspiration to become a teacher could come from watching movies with strong teacher characters. I may not know why I decided to pursue secondary education but I do understand that my entire life, I wanted to help people through honorable means. When I ultimately concluded my goals, I knew teaching is the right path. Teaching is the noblest profession.

Actually, my father used to be teacher; maybe my passion came from him?

My entire life, I watched my father work from 5 AM to 3 PM, just to make me and my siblings happy. As a carpenter, his work is not easy as it requires constant physical vigor throughout the day. On top of that, his job does not offer many benefits, so a vacation is not a household name. Even though my father comes homes exhausted, he never once complained about his life. He always made sure that we were happy, and even after working ten hours in the scorching sun or bitter cold, he always saved enough joy to make me happy. My father gave up his own happiness so I can be happy. All those times I asked for money, all those times I asked him to cover my chores, all those times my father made sure that I was doing okay could have been easily covered up by his stress. But they were not. For someone in my father's position, with the overbearing bills, the physical stress of his job, the small paycheck that nowhere near covers his integrity, it is truly remarkable that he comes home every day excited and happy to see his family. My father never missed a game or a recital. My father never even missed a chance to say "love you." Something as minuscule and quick, something that can easily be forgotten, he never once in my short nineteen years failed to say "I love you". Having a successful career would be way to repay all those "I love you’s that I felt all these years. To say, "Thanks dad, look how happy and successful you made me " would mean the absolute world to me. My dad has given up his own happiness for mine, and I could not be more grateful.

Going back, I think I do know where my desire to become a teacher originated. My father is a true inspiration to me, and he possesses all the qualities of a great educator. He puts the lives on his children before his own. He makes sure everyone is happy even though he himself is exhausted. He is constantly upbeat, and he uses his optimism to make the best of a bad situation. I hope the saying is true, because if this apple did not fall far from the tree, then I know I will be an exceptional teacher.