English isn't *everything*
What way can you have an influence on your school and you students besides teaching?
When I was in school, my classroom teachers were just the people who taught my classes. It was my coaches and advisors who really stood out to me and made my experience worthwhile. This question really makes me think about how I can be a real mentor to my students and an asset to my school.
I’ve always been hyper-involved with extra-curricular activities. In high school it was girl scouts, debate, forensics, mock trial, teen court, band (in all its forms: pep, jazz, marching…), diversity club and others. Each of these organizations and teams made a real impact on my attitude toward school and teachers.
I plan to coach and advise teams and organizations. I can’t say for sure which ones because I’m passionate about many things, and I feel like I need to go where I am most needed. As a coach I can have an impact on my students like many other adults cannot have. I will let my students know that there are options out there for people who don’t want to or can’t play sports (although sports are absolutely a great experience and worthwhile for any student who chooses to participate in them) or feel like they aren’t particularly good at any competitive activity.
Teams and clubs are about working and growing together—not about winning. I hope to give my students a sense of belonging within their group. This is something important that’s missing from a lot of students’ lives. If they feel like other people are invested in their well-being, they will also become self-reflective and think about me and their teammates next time they get into a sticky situation. If joining debate or diversity club can get students active, collaborating, and engaged, I want to enable and encourage them to do so.