Tara

I have wanted to be a teacher all of my life. When I was younger I would play school with my cousins and younger siblings. I was always the teacher and I took it very seriously:) I grew up on a small farm/ranch in western Nebraska. There I went to a very small country school to get my elementary education. K-6 had a whopping total of eighteen kids. I got to know all of my teachers and schoolmates very well, obviously. There was one little girl that was about two years younger than me. She had been in Kindergarten for three years or so. She had the biggest smile, the brightest blue eyes, and a passionate attitude. At recess I would sing little songs to her because that would make her the most happy when she got frustrated. Her name was Denise, but I told my Mom that she must have been an angel. Yeah, Yeah I know it sounds cheesy. I'm a pretty cheesy person. Denise had severe multiple disabilities. I didn't care, I loved her and her silly attitude. I envied her because she was almost always so happy. I never could have smiled as much as her. She passed away three years ago. She is the reason I want to become an educator of Special Education.