Autobiographical Essay

Introduction
Children need to have teachers that understand and push them into the direction needed for
success. Becoming a teacher is one of the most rewarding careers. I am looking forward to my
role as a teacher and being able to be a positive influence to my students. I am very lucky to be
currently working in the education field with children to help them further their knowledge.

Education
I grew up and attended school in the Jerome School District and graduated from Jerome
High School in 1996. After graduating, I attended college at the College of Southern Idaho
to work towards my veterinary degree. While there I acquired a degree in pre-veterinary
medicine and one in veterinary technology. I am currently attending the College of Southern
Idaho to pursue a degree in elementary education.
I have received training in several of the tests that are administered in Idaho, such as the
Idaho Reading Indicator (IRI), and theAIMSWeb math and reading assessments. Probably some
of the most useful educational experiences for me have occurred inside the classroom. I have had
the opportunity to work directly with teachers and students in their classrooms. While being in
the classrooms I have learned that teachers and students need to be very flexible. Teachers need
to alter their teaching style depending on her class and the way students are learning.

Work History
I am currently working as a paraprofessional at Jefferson Elementary School in Jerome,
Idaho. It has given me the opportunity to experience teaching first hand, which has really made
me know that I have a major desire to become a teacher. I spend most of my time in small group

instruction in reading interventions; most of the time alongside the teacher. My work with these
students has taught me that not all children learn on the same time frame and to be patient and
understanding. The students I work with require constant encouragement as they learn and
improve. I also administer weekly reading passages, which track a students growth. Each week I
am amazed at the growth that each student shows. I love it when they notice their hard work has
paid off and has shown growth. I have also learned a lot about classroom management from
the teachers I worked with. I feel like my work experience, even though brief, has helped me
define different characteristics that will be beneficial in a classroom and as teacher. I have found
that treating kids with respect and genuinely caring about the student and their learning is critical
in future success for them.
I previously worked at Kimberly Veterinary Hospital in Kimberly, Idaho. It gave me the
opportunity to put to work the knowledge I gained from my degrees I acquired from college. I
was able to care for patients alongside the veterinarian and provide client education. I assisted
with surgical and dental procedures on patients; including anesthesia protocols and monitoring
while the patient was under anesthesia. I had knowledge in the different pharmaceutical drugs
and took care of preparing the medications that the veterinarian prescribed. If a patient was in
need of a radiograph, I placed the patient in the appropriate manner and got the radiograph and
developed it so it was ready for interpretation from the veterinarian. I assisted the veterinarian in
the exam rooms and provided necessary patient restraint. Many laboratory duties were also
performed for help in veterinarian diagnosis. While work at the veterinary hospital I learned to
respect not only the patient but the owner. Communication between the veterinarian and my self
was necessary for proper client communication between me and the client. I thoroughly enjoyed
my work with animals and the opportunity had had to grow and use my degrees.

Conclusion
Even though my work experience is in different fields; it has still helped me to
understand the needs of others. I have learned that different circumstances call for different
measures; we need to approach each scenario in the appropriate way. We all need different
experience to help direct us in the path that is best for us and that teaching children is the path I
need to follow for my growth to continue.