Why I want to be a Theatre Teacher.

ever since I was in the 7th grade I never exactly what I wanted to be when I grew up. I knew I was supposed to be a teacher. (If you have read my personal statement on my previous post, you knew that). But that problem was I didn't really know what subject I wanted to teach. 

I remember being in middle school where my Dad taught 7th grade biology (and was my teacher) and helping grade papers, helping students and studying with science showdown team. Throughout doing all this, I was told that I was good at teaching and I knew that I enjoyed it and was good at it. So that has been my goal ever since. 

This is me in the 7th Grade Science Showdown

If I could formally thank West Hills College Lemoore this would be it because they pointed me in the right direction. I was asked if I wanted to attend a Future Teacher Conference put on by Team Teach at West Hills. And of course I said yes! 

Before I go on I would just like to thank Ms. Potter, she is the one that mentioned my name when they were looking for students to take to the conference. Ms. Potter truly cares about her students and pays attention to their lives and I've never met a student that didn't like her (and if I have then I have completely ignored their opinions because I know she is an amazing teacher). So thank you Ms. Potter for helping me with my life journey! 

So on Halloween of 2013 I attended the conference. At this Future Teacher conference, we were asked to go to groups and attend certain seminars. My friend Racheal and I attended and we found ourselves in a room with a handful of teacher that had gone on to do administration and I wasn't really paying attention because administration hadn't been a goal of mine. However Bobby Peters, the Director of Educational Services Hanford Joint Union High School District began talking and I don't tend to agree with many of his views on education but one thing that he said truly resonated with me. He began talking about he knew he wanted to be a teacher and he loved art; therefore he decided to become and art teacher. He soon came to realize that he couldn't teach something that he was naturally good at. He then decided that he was going to pick his worst subject which was english and he was going to teach that. He knew that by having to learn the subject he would be able to be a better teacher because he was able to relate to the struggles the students were having because him to had to learn just like the students. And at this moment I didn't relate it to myself, I just kept it as a good thought.

Mr. Preston and I at the Future Teacher Conference

My Mom has worked at a summer camp at West Hills for three years now, (don't quote me on that, I could be wrong), but she talked to Mr. Preston, the head of the camp and asked if I could apply even though I wasn't a college student just yet. The summer camp is based on the idea of helping young students in middle school to decide to go to college and it is run by college students aspiring to be teachers. And although I wasn't a college student I still given the chance to be interviewed. When I was interviewed by Mr. Preston I was asked what subject I wanted to teach and I said biology and/or theatre and he just looked at me really confused because those subjects don't entirely mesh.At this point in March 2014, I was struggling with the idea of wanting to teach theatre. But even though I didn't know exactly know what I wanted to teach I was told at the interview (because Mr. Preston believes that since this is an educational venue he tells you after the interview is over what you could do to have a stronger interview,) that he was most impressed with my experience with teaching. And I was hired and I was the youngest team member; that was pretty awesome. 

I then decided that I wanted to teach theatre. 

I remember struggling with this idea. I kept telling myself that you aren't good enough to teach this subject, you yourself have only been doing it for about 4 years. But I finally told myself that I was going to do it. I was going to teach theatre. I knew that because I wasn't naturally good at it and looking at my struggles and my growth between my freshman year and my senior I would be able to teach others because of my personal struggle in the field. 

Dwayne Tubbs, a great teacher and friend, gave me an opportunity to assistant direct, coach or whatever you want to call it. I was casted as Imogene in the show TBS Radio and because my role was a less demanding and we had a lot of freshmen he asked me to help out. I usually stuck to coaching just the freshmen because everyone else would blow me off. But I am so grateful for those freshmen that listened to me who gave me a chance to try it out. And thank you to Mr. Tubbs who commented about the change that he saw in the freshman after working with me. 

This is my favorite picture of Jared from Annie. 

Again I was given another opportunity to help during our high school's production of 'Annie', and my dear friend Jared was casted as Mr. Warbucks. This just happened to be his first theatre experience other than drama class and because I was in his in drama class we would practice all the time. I'd like to say I made Daddy Warbucks, but it was more like molded because Jared was awesome, just needed some refining. But I was able to see Jared transform from himself to a primary character in Annie. 

I would also work with Marissa and Eylssa during class all the time and I realized I loved doing this.So thank you Jared, Marissa and Elyssa for letting my push you around, you guys are awesome. 

I knew watching my high school theatre career ending I wasn't ready to give up theatre and I knew that I was doing what I knew I wanted to do. 

At the end of my high school career, I knew exactly where I was going and what I wanted to do. Back in my third period drama class I was told by Elyssa, Marissa and Mrs. Ankrum that they knew that I was going to be a great theatre teacher. And I am so thankful for them and all who believe in me because they helped me make that decision. 

5C West Hills Summer Camp

When I finished high school I went straight to work at West Hills and I was a teacher assistant so what I did was from like 8-12 the students went to different classes taught by teachers and then after lunch they were able to attend electives. Since I was a TA I was able to work in the "BOOM" class which was a theatre class and I loved it so much! I was an example for almost everything and I loved it. But then I also had the opportunity to teach Improv with an awesome group and the kids loved it. Being given the chance to teach theatre just reiterated that this was what I was meant to do. 

After that in July, I was another teacher assistant for a theatre camp for children put on by the Kings Players. I was basically a babysitter/stage manager/improv teacher. I thoroughly enjoyed working with these kids who were so excited to act in the Jungle Book production we were putting on. And I fell in love with teaching all over again, and it didn't hurt that all the parents complimented me on how I handled the kids. 

After a show when the kids put on the Jungle Book. 

All these experiences helped me to know what I wanted out of this life.

Now I am a theatre studies major at BYU anticipating the fall of 2015 when I can apply to the theatre ed. program. 

I could keep going talking about all the people who helped me make this choice, But I would just like to thank Bianca Ankrum, my very own drama teacher, who never gave up on me and pushed me to grow. I hope I can be a theatre teacher with her capacity to touch the lives of others through theatre. 

Till next time. 

Michaella Scholz