Six long years ago, my eighth grade algebra teacher, Mr. Constant, told me that I had what it took to get into an Ivy League school. At the time, I didn’t even know what an Ivy League school was, so he explained to me all the opportunities that accompanied such a school's reputation. Then, he said he looked forward to hearing my speech on graduation day. At the time, I didn’t know what to think of it. As far as I knew, I was just a kid who happened to receive good grades. 

      As years went by, classes got harder and life became more complicated. As the challenges got tougher, however, Mr. Constant’s words were always with me, manifested in every step along the way. He gave me faith in myself—a faith that extends far beyond mere academic success—a faith that I can do whatever I want with my life, whether that be attending MIT to become an engineer or starting my own hamburger joint. It’s an incredible power knowing that someone believes in you, because even when you don’t believe in yourself, knowing someone else who does automatically gives you a reason to keep moving forward. To know that Mr. Constant had a vision of who I could become and what I could accomplish that early in my life inspires me to always put my best foot forward no matter the situation.

      Perhaps, as an impressionable eighth grader, I saw myself in Mr. Constant’s shoes. I looked up to him and saw him as a respectful, caring, and insightful man who wore his values on his sleeve. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned that this behavior requires one to know oneself and be content with who one is as well as one’s outlook on life. You truly have to believe in yourself and your values to be able to comfortably stand in front of a group of kids and express yourself while knowing kids’ lives are continuously being affected by your energy. In addition, those kids’ energies will affect others, who will then affect others, and so on. This brings me to my first aspiration as a future teacher; I want to help my students develop compassion to be loving, contributing members of society. In order to do this, I have to model the same behavior that I want to see in them. As a teacher, I need to take the time to meditate upon my values and manifest my original intentions in the actual workplace. This is of utmost importance to me as I prepare to become a teacher and role model in the modern world.

      In addition to being compassionate, I believe contributing members of society ought to be knowledgeable and healthy. Students ought to be prepared with the necessary knowledge to successfully navigate this complex world, and they ought to be healthy enough to exercise that knowledge productively. Health encompasses physical and mental well-being, which includes (but is not limited to) drive, fulfillment, gratitude, and resilience. Installing these characteristics into our future generations would greatly assist them in taking initiative according to their values in this emotionally and ethically challenging world. Now, more than ever, I believe we need driven, compassionate, and creative individuals who won't lose their values in the face of adversity. Making sure we raise such resilient students is what I believe my duty as a high school math teacher is. 

      To evaluate my students (and thus myself), I will measure the progress that my students make. This could be portrayed in the form of a brighter attitude, making new connections in class, or more participation. The most a human being can do is try, so if I see my students trying their best, then their grades will reflect that. If there's a student who doesn't have to try hard to do well in my class, then we’ll practice collaboration and facilitate help for the students who need it. There's always something we can do for others, which is one of the lessons I hope to teach and observe in my future students as part of their evaluation. 

      To continue growing and furthering my goals as a teacher, I’ll seek discomfort, knowledge, and new experiences around the world. I hope to attend educational programs and training, learn about different cultures firsthand, and better myself through continuous self-care and introspection. I want to be able to teach anywhere in the world with any group of kids and be able to connect to them.

      In order to continue growing as a teacher, I must sustain a healthy lifestyle and live a life outside of school. I believe inspiration comes from being entertained, so I mustn’t forget the importance of having fun. Oftentimes, when you have fun, you enter the flow state, which has beautiful effects on both the mind and body. It allows one to return to work with a completely refreshed and energized mind. It’s like going outside to take a breath of fresh air. The more I experience, learn about myself, and feel fulfilled, the better I’ll be able to drive my students forward into creating their own story, finding their own fulfillment and purpose. 

      Mr. Constant thought MIT would be a great fit for me since I’m good at math. This would’ve been the case if I had dreamed of being an engineer, banker, or software developer. In reality, though, I want to be just like Mr. Constant. I want to give kids the foundations for an inspired, fulfilling, joyful, and exciting life. Not all times will be pleasant, so I, as a high school math teacher, hope to prepare my students with the necessary skills to respond to all of life’s curveballs and bounce back when they strike out. Perseverance is key, especially when it comes to solving math problems.