First Year Questions

Growing up, I lacked confidence and was very quiet. I was very interested in school and had the ability to do well, but I was too shy to ask questions or seek clarification if I did not understand something.

 When I was in high school, if a student did not know something, the teachers would often dismiss the student as being difficult or incapable of learning. I cannot recall a single time that a teacher made me feel supported when I needed assistance.

 While I hold myself accountable for not speaking up in high school, I do feel that I could have gained the confidence to do so and excelled academically had I been offered encouragement, guidance, and patience from my teachers.

 My experiences in school are what drew me to the idea of teaching in the first place. I want to be able to provide others who struggle with understanding and learning the opportunity to meet and even exceed their own goals and expectations.

 Some of the questions I have include the following:

• What are some of the biggest challenges students in the Bachelor of Education program have had difficulty with?

• What are some of the challenges new teachers experience?

• What are some of the skills that successful teachers possess?