"I want to be a role model and be able to influence students to be kind, respectful, and empathetic of others so that when they become adults, they can be good citizens and continue to show kindness, respect, and empathy to others."

Department

Special Education

Related Degrees

• BEd in Special Education

Why did you choose to become a teacher, in general?

I chose to become a teacher because I wanted to be around children and impact their lives. I wanted to be a role model and be able to influence students to be kind, respectful, and empathetic of others so that when they become adults, they can be good citizens and continue to show kindness, respect, and empathy to others.

Why did you choose to become licensed in special education?

After I received my associate degree, I was unsure if I wanted to pursue being a teacher, but I still wanted to be around students. I took a pause and became a skills trainer and worked with students who were on the spectrum. That job changed me as a person and taught me so much in so little time. I realized I was good at what I was doing, and I enjoyed my job for the first time because being in a classroom with students who have different disabilities made every day different and interesting and that’s what excited me the most.

Why do you feel it is important to have diversity in the classroom?

It’s important to have diversity in the classroom because we are in Hawaii -we are a melting pot of different cultures and backgrounds so it’s only important that the students see teachers who look similar to them. Growing up when I was in school I had teachers who were either White or Japanese. In my entire life of being in a public school in Hawaii, I only had one teacher who was Filipino and she made a huge impact on my decision to become a teacher someday. As a Filipino person, I would have enjoyed having teachers who were more like me and who shared the same cultures and values as me, because of that one teacher who looked like one of my aunts – she made me excited and happy going to school because I had someone who understood me beyond being a student but understood my home life and the expectations.