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What Did You Want to Be When You Grew Up?
Did you fulfill your childhood career dream? Why or why not?
If you remember your early elementary school days, you will surely remember being asked this question in school and by your family and friends. At first, you probably gave the usual answers: policeman, fireman, astronaut, etc. As you got older, your answers may have become more specific: scientist, artist, musician, teacher, etc. If you were one of the lucky teenagers who had things pretty much figured out by high school, your list of possible career options became even more specific.
The Lasting Impact of my Early Education Teachers
I knew in 2nd grade that I wanted to be an English teacher. My mother, a former nurse, had just started teaching elementary school science. I was always an excellent reader and writer. When I was in first grade, I was the only Black student in my class and my teacher, Mrs. Beckton, hated me and never missed an opportunity to let me know I did NOT “belong.”
