Paige Chang
BEd ESEE Hawkin's Scholar
"There was one teacher in particular who inspired me in the classroom and that encouraged me to want to become just like them"
Hometown
O'ahu, HI
Department
Special Education
Related Degrees
- BEd in Special Education
Why did you choose to become a teacher, in general?
Being a student for the last 15 or so years of my life, I’ve had my share of extraordinary teachers as well as some not so great teachers. There was one teacher in particular who inspired me in the classroom and that encouraged me to want to become just like them. I wanted to assist others in their journeys towards their futures and I wanted be a guide to help them grow as individuals. The idea of doing so, seemed so rewarding and the road to becoming that guide has been my passion for quite some time. I specifically decided that I wanted to major in Elementary Education because I’m the type of person who never wanted to grow up and always liked the idea of staying curious and silly. I felt that Elementary students best matched my ideals because in my opinion it’s the age where the most wondering is taking place.
Why did you choose to become licensed in special education?
I decided to get my license in special education because I have a younger brother with autism. Having a sibling with special needs has really shaped my perspective of what an educational setting should look like when accommodating for various students needs. Growing up, I’ve gotten the chance to really understand what autism is and how it affects my brother and at the same time how it makes him, him. I’ve had experiences with helping him out with his communication and academic skills and I wanted to pursue that further through the licensure in special education so that I could better assist other students. Another reason I’d like to be licensed in special education is because of my dad. He was a Student Services Coordinator (SSC) at an elementary school for a few years and through his shared experiences, it has inspired me to further push myself to become a potential special education teacher.