Motivation Blog

Why am I here? Well, I'm in this class because it's required, but hopefully more than that. I'm in this class to learn and find ways to help my future students learn. I'm in the education program because my junior year I discovered, after going 16 years believing I sucked at English, that I had a passion for English and could do well in it. I finally got one teacher to uncover that passion for me. I'd like to be that person for just one student; I'd like to influence students to find their passion in life. And I'm at UVU because, well, I kind of fell into that one. I'd never planned on coming up here; my last semester at Snow College I had everything ready for me to move to SUU, then I meet a boy. I changed my plans and moved to Orem in May, then the boy broke up with me. So here I am at UVU, and I actually love it up. It all worked out in the end.

What motivates me? My biggest motivation is myself; I have plans for my life. I'd really love to be a great English teacher, but I also really hope to be a great literature professor as well. That's my next goal in life. I think a little healthy competition among my other siblings motivates me too. I'm the youngest of six, so I have to show them up a bit.

Why do I succeed? I'm a person that is really driven by passion. If I'm passionate about it I put my whole heart into it; no backing out. I succeed in things I have a passion for. I'm passionate about literature, reading and writing. I do well in those areas because I want to do well.

Why do I fail? Well, that's the opposite of the previous question. When I'm not passionate about something I'm pretty apathetic towards it. Not always a good thing. I've struggled a lot in my math classes because I wouldn't find a reason for me to need to learn it. Another huge factor for me is my comfort level in a class; I can get really uncomfortable in groups of people. Apathy and anxiety don't go together well. If I don't find something to be important for me, then it's even more difficult for me to put myself out there.

How do I need to change my motivations and my mindset for this class in order to become a great teacher? A refocus on being motivated to better others rather than bettering myself is going to help me become a great teacher. I need to want to see those students succeed as much as I want to see myself succeed. My mindset needs to be changed so I'm more open-minded towards others' passions. It will be so much easier to show my students the beauty of English if I could find the beauty of math or science or anything else. I will have students who hate English, but if I can somehow weave their passions through my class maybe they'll hate it a little less.