Why Did I Become a Teacher?
I am a writer, bookaholic, podcaster, educator, and so much more!
I was born in South Carolina to Marilyn and Trevor McDonald. I had a very happy childhood and enjoyed every moment of it. My parents had high expectations for me because they knew I was born to make a difference. My parents and grandparents always stressed the importance of education at a young age. They wanted me to achieve more than they ever had, especially my grandparents, who did not have the same opportunities as I had.
My bedroom was always full of books, and I would do almost anything to crack any book open. It opened my eyes to more than I could experience at home. It showed me the injustice of our world, how to become brave in the face of adversity and to enjoy life to the fullest. As I grew older, I was shocked to see how kids my age or younger did not enjoy books as I did. What shocked me the most was that many children did not even know how to read or write.
I did not always dream of being a teacher as some of my peers may have. Yes, I did pretend to be a teacher with my stuffed animals and tried to instruct my friends at church about grammar and multiplication tables; nevertheless, I never thought of it as a career path. I always saw myself as an author, magazine editor, or journalist. Anything to do with writing or in media! It wasn't until my senior year in high school, as I volunteered at a rural charter school, that I realized that I wanted to become an educator. I was always drawn to kids and teens and wanted to do something with them to encourage them to be leaders in the community, but now I see that education is one of the keys to accomplishing that goal.
As an educator, I want to help expand my students' horizons and help them see the world differently than the media and society have portrayed it. Education is more than just homework, tests, and learning objectives. I want them to feel and know that they can change the world and become the future leaders that this world needs or as Nelson Mandela once said, "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world."
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Now as a teacher
Ain't I A Teacher
One of the speeches that truly resonates with me is "Ain't I a Woman" by Sojourner Truth. When I was younger, I was always taught that the word ain't "ain't a word" and saw how sometimes my peers were looked down upon based on their dialect or speech habits. However, when I read Truth's speech in college in my African American literature class, I was amazed by the power and authority of her informal speech. As an educator, I encourage students to find the power of their voices by discussing real-world issues and engaging students in multiple perspectives through diverse literature.
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In 2020, I began my first year teaching in the midst of a worldwide pandemic. Despite my challenges, it helped me become a stronger teacher and now I am able to share those experiences with others!
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I started a podcast with my cousin called Crayons & Pencils and have even created a Teacher Pay Teacher's page to share rigorous yet engaging content for new teachers.
