My personal journey to arrive at the decision to become a teacher has taken a long time in developing. This is my second university experience, having earned a degree in Leisure Service Management from the University of Minnesota, and in the back of my mind I always thought that if I would ever go back to school it would be for teaching. It has taken until now to realize that I should have taken that path from the start.
During my youth I was prone to be the one showing others how to do things. I tended to pick up on things, whether it was sports or academics, rather quickly and often helped others learn. I can remember watching a baseball game on the television and my father asking me if I would like to be a major league ballplayer someday and my response was that I would like to be the manager because he gets to run the team and teach the players how to play (even then money was not a motivating factor in my career choice!).
While growing up I always did well in school, finishing in the top ten of my class (it was a long time ago!), and liked the school setting, especially history, but was never encouraged to go into the teaching profession. Instead, I followed the path of my boss and mentor into the recreation field after flirting with the idea of becoming an architect. I thought the recreation field would keep me close to one of the activities that I enjoy doing, coaching. After a series of part-time jobs trying to break full-time into the field, I finally gave up and settled for full-time work in a job that was not exactly what I expected for my life’s ambition. All this time I was working on writing a novel to release the creative and academic energy that I felt inside. Also, I was not working with kids or coaching as I had done earlier and was not real satisfied with the direction of my life. I finally decided one day to sell my house in the twin cities area and move back to my hometown to get a fresh start and decide just what am I going to do with my life.
Once back in my hometown, I began to do those things again that made me feel satisfied. I worked with the park department, part-time, as a laborer, resumed coaching baseball and hockey, and continued to write. What began to unfold was that the time I spent coaching, being around kids from kindergarten to high school, was becoming the most important part of my life. It is quite a thrill to know you have reached a reluctant kid and made an impact on their life. Once I started to coach high school hockey, I began to become involved with the school setting again and a little bell started ringing, but not quite loud enough. I was enjoying coaching and the students and was able to combine it with my part-time job.
The bell rang loud and clear when I had an opportunity to work full-time for the recreation department. I wanted the security but would be forced to give up coaching either hockey or baseball. That was when I realized that almost all my life I had been teaching, even though it was on the field or rink, and I could not give it up. I took a class at Minnesota State University, Mankato in which I had to teach to the class a few times just to be sure and, well, it seemed that I was meant to teach.
So, here I am, enjoying myself thoroughly.
The novel remains a work in progress but I will have summers free....