"I feel it is important to have diversity in the classroom because diversity exists outside the classroom. Not acknowledging diversity would be like not addressing the differences between people."

Department

Special Education

Related Degrees

• BEd, Exceptional Students & Elementary Education

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

I chose to pursue a teaching degree because the curriculum is fascinating to me, and the degree is very practical. Although some days are a struggle, choosing the path I did feels like a step in the right direction. I also think being a part of a community of teachers is very valuable to me. This was something I only recently discovered after switching my degree (previously pursued a marketing degree). The values needed to become a teacher comes from wanting to help others. I think this value and the community itself is a big support to student-teachers like me. As I further my teaching career, it has overall been rewarding to see students develop into themselves whether that it be through their character or their learning.

Why did you choose to become licensed in special education?

I chose to become a licensed special education teacher to be more versatile in my teaching position. I believe the pursuit of such knowledge and education is never wasted. Areas of improvement in this field are needed constantly whether it is in the classroom or through legislation. People with disabilities make up a large portion of our society, yet generally not much of their history or conditions are taught in school. However after my first initial semester, the experiences have proven themselves to be invaluable. The knowledge I have gained not only helps with students who receive special education services, but also within the general education classroom where there is high variability. Being a licensed special education teacher will allow me to help others with more expertise.

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

I feel it is important to have diversity in the classroom because diversity exists outside the classroom. Not acknowledging diversity would be like not addressing the differences between people. This concept seems easy to gauge in a place like Hawaii where a large melting pot of cultures is present. However, it is important to acknowledge diversity in classrooms that lack diversity as well. If we ever expect to address inequity, it must be acknowledged in the classroom in order to raise a generation that mitigates these present issues. At the elementary age, promoting diversity starts as simply as expecting kindness. This ripples into destabilizing issues like bigotry which stems from ignorance and not being able to listen to others. It is important for young students to see representation and to know that being different is acceptable.