12/05/2025
I WAS ONCE ASKED WHY I BECAME A TEACHER.
I became a teacher so I could help inspire kids to be the best they could be, no matter what form that took on, as everyone is a unique individual, to instill positive self-esteem so they could gain confidence in themselves and a positive outlook on their futures ahead. Many kids I worked with had obstacles to overcome or adapt to, either personally or as part of their home dynamics; some were educationally challenged while others were excelling far beyond the others their age. The joy it gave me to see that glisten of hope spark up in their eyes once they realized they too can rise above and accomplish special things or learn how to share their unique talents with others so that positive collaborations happen and flow forward to help others, to have students actually “find themselves” feeling special, appreciated, and valued for who they truly are, not having to hide behind stereotypical masks anymore; that to me is what teaching is all about. It’s one thing to teach the 123’s and ABC’s but it’s another level to teach them to value themselves and others in the process, to honor and respect others but most of all have respect for themselves.
I use the same philosophy when teaching people how to create art. It is so rewarding to see, especially adults that thought they couldn’t draw a stick person, work through the creative process as I’m teaching each step and seeing their understanding and even posture improve because they are realizing they can achieve the goal way better than they had anticipated. Seeing them leave the class with a smile and gratitude in their heart fills me with joy. God gifts us all with unique talents, and sharing those talents with others can sometimes help to reveal and inspire others towards realizing theirs.
By Julie Vansickle
12-4-2025