My take on education(aka how I became a teacher).

I went to pre-school for two years. This should make me a genius but that is not why my mother put me in pre-school. It was more a necessity because both of my parents worked. I learned the alphabet, got my first make out session(no joke ask my mom), learned to swim, and pretended that toy boats were guitars with my friend. That was the good life. Nap time, snack time, alphabet time. Although, those were the forming years that cemented my hatred of grits. Yuck! tastes like soupy sand with butter. Gross!

I went to seven different schools before the fifth grade. One catholic school, one evangelist christian school, one inner city school, and four other nondescript public schools in the suburbs. Again I wasn't a genius child but I pretty much met no difficulty until the third grade.

I got a 'U' in handwriting(back when 'U' was still a grade). I still can not write in cursive and not have it look like a third grader wrote it. I hated cursive. Mrs. Shay sent me home with note cards with our spelling words written in perfect script for me to trace using my index finger. I got 'U's! Finally I went to the fourth grade with my crappy cursive and have written in print ever since.

Eventually, I went to sixth grade. I found some sort of social life and my grades began to suffer. I don't remember much from middle school except from a few experiences in choir and band. I remember in eighth grade Mr. Spudy tried to make it dress code that the students tuck their shirts in and wear belts. For some reason, in our 12 year old brains, this was unacceptable. So we organized a walk out. Most of the eighth grade students were walking out when, near the front door, we hear, "GET BACK TO CLASS!" Like roaches running from light we scattered. I look back at our civil disobedience and laugh at our lack of fortitude.

Then I went to high school. It wasn't that I didn't already know that I needed an education and a record that identified my exceptional completion of the grades, I just didn't care. I was in the a marching band so I spent a lot of time at the school doing band things. My grades were sufficient, mostly C's. It wasn't that I wasn't capable of getting an 'A'. I didn't like to do homework. This still haunts me even today. My sophomore chemistry teacher was impressed at my ability to pass her class with a 'C' without turning in any homework or lab reports. I knew the material. I aced all of the tests, to the chagrin of some of my fellow students. By my junior year, the calling of college and the permanent record full of mid level grades made me step up ... sort of. I dropped all of the honors classes I had been taking. I took a schedule of all regular classes. All of my friends were honors or AP type kids and they all got straight 'A's. I picked up my homework and got almost straight A's. I was ready to start taking the challenging classes.

Guidance Counselor: Why do you want to take honors physics?
Me: Huh?
GC: That's one of the hardest classes offered in this school.
Me: Oh, um, I can do it.
GC: Looking at your honors chem grades, I have some reservations.
Me: What? No, I can do it.
GC: Let's call your mom and see what she says.
(dials)
GC: Hello Mrs. Snyder ... Huh? Oh, I'm sorry Mrs. Loutsenhizer ... Yes, your son would like to take honors physics ... Right ... well, I feel it might be too challenging considering his previous experience with honors science ... right, well ... ok ... yes, um ... thanks for speaking with me ... uh huh, have a good day.
(To Me)
Alright, but if you have difficulty remember I warned you.

I got straight A's in honors physics. I sent her my mid term and final with bright red A's on the front with a note that said "Thanks for the encouragement!"

I got into two colleges. I chose the one that would not keep me in debt for a million years. My college transcript reads a lot like my high school transcript. For different reasons. I was a drinker ... allow me to clarify. I had friends who were drinkers and were twenty one. I failed two liberal arts requirements that fall. It was tough to climb out of that hole. A theater major is required to participate in productions. During production I was always on campus until late. Not an excuse but relevant information. I still hadn't received the grace of an appreciation for knowledge and learning. That came later in college.

Once I got it I contemplated staying in school longer. Maybe pick up a second major with the plan for law school or grad school of some kind. I decided to finish the first degree. I could always come back. That last year I was planning/hoping to get a directing internship at some regional theater or hit the audition circuit. I wanted to begin the next chapter in my theatre career.

My father was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma in August of 2003. It was a tumor in the base of his tongue. Our scattered phone conversations were becoming more difficult because of the swelling and growth of the tumor. I found myself at a cross roads. Do I go begin my artistic career or do I move to Texas to live with my dad? I decided to move to Texas.

When I graduated I became the first in the family to graduate from college. Shortly afterward I looked for jobs in the Austin/San Marcos area. My girlfriend at the time told me to look into AmeriCorps. "They will help you pay off your loans a little too" Sounds great! After a lot of searching I found a couple of interesting placements. I applied for a position as a mentor/tutor to 'at risk' youth. It would put me on a school campus helping out kids. It sounded way better than some of the positions which seemed like paper pushing internships. They called and asked me for an interview. The rest was history. I got the job. I was placed at a middle school in Kyle, TX.

I enjoyed the work. It was kind of an escape from life at home. I was dealing with about 20 kids on a personal basis but I met and got to know many more. Over the course of the year I began to hear about the theater teacher. He was an older man and apparently he didn't relate very well to the kids. My boss was the first to mention the possibility of me teaching theater arts.

Teaching never appealed to me, at least not since pre-school. While all of the other kids wanted to be rock stars or astronauts. I laughed at their unrealistic goals. I was reasonable. I wanted to be a teacher. That slowly faded as a I took an interest in computers and programming. Then I started performing in High school. I wanted to be an actor. Even through college I thought teaching is what out of work actors do(this is true but it is a choice). Working on a middle school campus made me respect what teachers do. Slowly the bug bit me. I was entertaining the idea more and more. Finally, word got out that they were not going to invite him back.

Me: What do I need to do to get that position?
Principal: Get certified.
Me: Done.
Principal: Submit a resume and application.
Me: Done.
Principal: We'd like to interview you.
Me: Done ... I mean okay.

(Insert interview here)

Principal: We are recommending you for the theater arts teaching position to the district.
Me: Great! (Pumps fist)

Now I am a teacher.