First Essay Done

Let me update any new developments. I am not able to get everything together for the PSU grad program. Their essay requirements is so detailed that I need more time to answer what they wanted. If I don't get into my first and second choices of grad school, I will try for PSU next December. I know, PSU is a public state school and it'll be cheaper. (Btw, I know one person in PSU GTEP program who is finishing this summer. She's so busy and seemed so tired. I know teachers who graduated from here with their teaching license and they said its a good program.)

But I'm more interested in how Concordia or Marylhurst can really shape me to be my best as a classroom teacher. I researched and they presented me how they shape their future teachers. I love the small cohorts and how much the professors and mentor teachers who encourages you. I know people who are in their programs and they are so happy with it. I know myself pretty well and I need that extra support and attention that a private school can only help me reach my goals. As for financially, I can only trust in God to help me with that. If anyone know a good scholarship program for grad students, please share it with me because that will help me a lot. Btw, I can't apply for financial aid until I'm officially accepted into a program.


I finally gotten my letter of intent to Concordia University done. I had 3 people looked at it with editing help. It's a blessing to have people in my life willing to help me edit my work so I can best showcase who I am. Here is my essay:

“A good teacher is like a candle - it consumes itself to light the way for others,” (Author Unknown). This quote, as well as my on-going work as an educational assistant, inspires me to continue my education for the benefit of others. As a teacher I would focus on impact the lives of my students in big ways. When I teach, I love introducing children to new concepts and skills that will be useful for their lives now and in the future. First, I would like to help children find successful ways to problem solve daily issues like organization and social skills. They could use these skills in their personal and professional lives as they grow up and become adults. Employers and higher educational settings always want people with great problem solving skills because it helps create a calm and productive environment. With too much strife and no solutions, it creates a harmful environment for anyone to learn or work. Another fact, I love assisting students in developing and mastering their previously basic skills. Also, when I am teaching a subject to a student I find myself to be learning too and this inspires me to continue my own studies and inspiration to be a lifelong learner. When students question something new about a subject, I may not know the answer. We will discover the answer to their questions together so that I also showcase my desire to continue to learn. By my example, my students will see how useful and fun it is to be a lifelong learner. In the teaching profession, I have been known to be creative and autonomous. My crafts are inspired by cultures around the world. As an elementary teacher, I see myself remaining young and having positive interactions with diverse groups of students. As I get to know them, their sense of humor and mine will help bond us for the year. I am looking forward to positive relationships with my future students so that I could use what I learn about them to help them become better students and future productive adults. I would be with these students on a regular basis so I would have a lot of time to aid them in their growth. They too would influence me by their responses to help me become a better teacher. My goal as an instructor is to build a solid foundation for the students and impact them in positive ways so they may become productive and lifelong learning adults.
I am choosing Concordia because of its community where they respect multiple views and value critical thinking, both of which are needed in the teaching profession. In the schools, there are students from different backgrounds, religions and social-economical status. As educators, we need to meet these needs by respecting diverse views and use critical thinking skills by teaching them to the students. When the students and the teacher create a positive, open and creative learning environment, everyone flourishes. I believe in Concordia’s mission statement using Christ as our model in being a good teacher as well as the College of Education preparing educators in diverse communities, and encourage lifelong learning. I too want to be a good teacher who influences students in the best way where they are great problem solvers, have solid moral beliefs, and become lifelong learners. I love that Concordia has small cohorts so that student teachers get the personal attention they need to sharpen their skills to become good teachers.
After five years from graduating from the program, I would like to be a mentor to student teachers or first year teachers. I want to be a mentor because I enjoy guiding and helping people. We need good teachers out in the schools. After a few years of teaching, I hope I could encourage future educators to reach their goals as well as positively encourage them to continue in the wonderful profession of teaching. I also would like to earn a Masters of Education in ESOL because hopefully in ten years time, I would be an ESOL teacher. Students who are ELL are in my heart and I want to help them succeed in the English language. I too understand about learning a new language and the struggles of becoming proficient in academic English. My first spoken language was Cantonese so I learned English in preschool. In my early years, I didn’t have an ESL teacher because there wasn’t enough need at my elementary school. I had to navigate learning English from my peers as well as my classroom teachers and a literacy specialist. While I appreciate their efforts, I know a good ESOL teacher could make the difference for ELL students to master the English language academically so they can be successful in the United States. As an ESOL teacher, I will also recommend students to continue with their native languages because in this multilingual world, bilinguals are truly needed in many professions here in America and abroad.