My Desire to Educate
I was only a sophomore in high school, preparing for summer, when my parents announced that we would be taking a three and a half week camping trip across the United States and Canada, visiting major national parks and landmarks along the way. Needless to say I was not exactly ecstatic about being stuck in an SUV for nearly a month with my little sister and parents, but this was not an optional event. We would make our way due west towards the Grand Canyon, continue north into Canada, looping back around into Michigan and southeast back to Pennsylvania. To my surprise, this trip would turn out to be a major turning point in my future, sparking my interest and love for the field of science, and eventually leading to my decision to become a Science teacher.
As we embarked on our journey a mixed bag of emotions consumed me. I would be losing almost a third of my summer, but I was extremely curious; not only about the landscape of the west, but what North America’s national parks had to offer. We made our way across the central United States and my anxiety began to build.
“Where the heck are all the tree’s?” , I remember thinking to myself.
We were a long way from home, and to be honest, it was quite dull and uneventful. These thoughts soon flipped as the landscape began to change and we gradually made our way into the western United States. An explosion of trees, wildlife, and mountains filled the windows of the SUV as we crossed into Colorado, where the trip actually began for me.
Over the course of the next three weeks I would explore the wonders of the west while living in nature over which time I truly found my passion for the sciences as each new stop drove my curiosity more. From the depths of the Grand Canyon to the geysers and hot springs of Yellowstone I was hooked, and only wanted to learn more.
Growing up with educators as parents, I believe is one of the main reasons I desired to be an educator. Constant discussion of school and education was the center of dinner conversation every night. Having so much respect and love for my parents made me want to be just like them when I grew up, but I was could never find a subject I was truly interested in learning or teaching; until this trip.
When we returned, a long period of reflection was followed by happiness; I had finally found my niche in the education field and my career path was never clearer. As a whole the trip was one of the best experiences of my life completely refuting my worries prior to the endeavor. I believe that all it takes is one experience to completely change a person’s outlook. This trip was the experience that I needed, and I would not trade the passion for science that I gained for the world.
