Blog #26 – DESIRE TO MAKE DREAMS COME TRUE
When I was only 6 years old, I knew I wanted to become a teacher. The roots of that early decision would begin to grow and would be reinforced throughout my childhood experiences. My father was a projectionist at an outdoor movie theater called The Buckhorn. My mother was a housewife. Many summers, my family and I made money by picking cotton. It was very hard work and exhausting, but I recall often, various families who worked on the same fields with us would gather during lunch time or in the evenings to talk about the future. The parents had big dreams for their children. Each set of parents had dreams that one day their children would be educated and have a good job that did not require manual labor. I could see how tired they were, but what I most remember is the way they smiled when they shared dreams of a better life for their children in the future. Even at a young age, it was evident to me, how much they loved their children. These parents were willing to sacrifice their own future to provide better opportunities for their children. I respected each of them. My parents shared the same dreams.
During my childhood, we rarely ate any meal that had meat because we could not afford it. Our meals consisted of rice, potatoes, beans, eggs and vegetables. Although we were poor, I never felt poor because of all of the love that my brothers and I received from our parents. Dreams for a better life for all children were woven into the fabric of my being. Thus, that dream, when combined with my love of mathematics, inspired me to pursue a career in teaching. I was determined in playing a role not only in the lives of those children, but all future children that I would teach. I truly believe that all teachers touch the future. The desire to help make dreams come true inspired me then and it still inspires me now. I thank God, every day for the parents I was given and the opportunities they provided me because of their hard work which allowed me to achieve my dream.
I encourage anyone who is passionate about making a positive impact in the lives of children to pursue a career in teaching and help make more dreams come true.