I've known that I wanted to be a teacher for many years. Likewise, I've always desired to provide for my students the same type of learning environment and experience that I had growing up. I was raised in several small Texas towns, and each school I attended was similar in size, atmosphere, and the quality of teaching I received.

The first school I attended was in Childress, Texas; where I began kindergarten. It was a small school that accommodated kindergarten through fifth grade students. When you walked in the front doors you could faintly smell chalk and hear the giggles of children as they walked down the hallway to their classrooms.

My favorite subject in elementary school was Reading. Oh, how I loved going to my reading class every day! We did so many things in that class. We learned our cursive writing in second grade reading. Our teacher, Mrs. Word, was a very positive, upbeat person and would beam at you with the most beautiful smile. She always made us feel special, safe, and smart. She praised our efforts, and made us feel as though we'd accomplished something important. Every day at the end of class, she'd read from "Charlotte's Web," and we all listened to her melodic voice in awe.

My other teachers were wonderful, but Mrs. Word was the type of teacher I always wanted to be. She was smart, kind, and was sensitive to the needs of her students. Reading wasn't a chore with her because she did not make you feel horrible if you mispronounced a word. We put on Easter plays, and Thanksgiving plays, in her class; which made things fun.

I've always enjoyed reading, and hope one day to teach Reading or English. To me, nothing is more rewarding than seeing a child's face light up when they've sounded out a word to figure out what that word is, and succeeded. I believe that in teaching, praise is a treasure. When a student is praised for his/her efforts, it boosts their self-esteem and makes them feel proud of themselves and their accomplishments.

My goal is also to provide students with a feeling of safety and security in the classroom. I never remember a time growing up where I didn't feel safe at school. School was an extension of home to me, and I felt at ease there just as I did at home with my parents.

Teachers hold the keys to learning. As a teacher, we provide many keys to many doors. Our job is to provide the students with a key ring full of many keys, and the knowledge that will allow them to chose which key fits in which door. Also on the key ring is a master key. We, the teachers, are that master key. If the student forgets which key goes in the door, he can use the master key to get the door open.

Learning doesn't end in school; it's a continuing process. A student will have many teachers in his lifetime. I only hope that I can be the type of teacher that Mrs. Word was - an unforgettable teacher. I hope to leave a lasting imprint on the minds of my students. Maybe someday one of my students will grow up and say, "I would like to be the kind of teacher that Mrs. Anson was." That would truly make me happy.