Autobiography

Bridget Maloney

My path to becoming a teacher has been inspired by the many wonderful teachers who have supported me, encouraged me, and pushed me.  As a child I was very shy, and school was a stressful place for me. I was always needing reassurance, whether it be that I was doing an assignment correctly, or that I could complete a test, or even that I am safe and that my parents would be there to pick me up at the end of the day. Throughout my elementary and high school career my teachers have taught me to believe in myself and take a few risks every once and a while.

From a young age teaching has been something I have been interested in. My mom is a teacher, and I always thought her job was really exciting. I believe that a career should be something you truly love doing, and I knew working in an office was not for me. I like to work with people on a personal level. Teaching is very interactive, as you get to work closely with the children in your classroom. Also, as I have gotten older my love for working children has grown. I have always enjoyed being a mentor for people younger than me. I was a baton twirler until I was sixteen and my favorite part of the sport was getting to help coach the younger twirlers. I loved seeing the look of excitement when they mastered a new skill. Getting to be a part of something so exciting was special. I have also volunteered in elementary schools in grade one and two classrooms. These experiences have solidified my choice to get my degree and become a teacher because getting to be a part of a child’s learning experience is something I both enjoy and feel is very important.

High school brought some of the hardest years of my life. At fifteen years old my dad was put on life support and eventually had a lung transplant. Throughout this process my dad was hospitalized in Edmonton, Alberta and my mom went with him; however, my brother and I could not go because we had school and other commitments at home. This means my older brother and I were home alone in Regina for four months. Up to this point in my life I had never really understood the amount of kindness I was surrounded by in school. I was attending F.W. Johnson in Regina and the unwavering support my family received from teachers, guidance counsellors, and administration was unmatched. They saw me struggling and did everything they could to support me through that. I also had one of my teachers pull me aside after class to inform me that because of my family she has decided to become an organ doner, she knew this decision could save a life just like someone had for my dad. I will never forget this. In those moments I realized my teachers were not just there to teach me math or English, they cared about each one of their students and wanted to see them succeed academically, but more importantly in life. This is when I knew that I was making the right decision in becoming a teacher. I want to give my students the same love and support I had because without these teachers I would not be who I am today.

Mental health is something that I have struggled with my entire life. Being diagnosed with an anxiety disorder only a year ago things have been beginning to make sense. I always thought that the levels of stress I was experiencing were normal and I just needed to deal with it. When I really needed some extra help coping. I did not know what anxiety was, as it was never talked about in school. I feel that everyone needs to be educated on mental health and the education should start young. The sooner one can understand what is going on in their brain the sooner they can understand how to help themselves learn and be able to communicate what supports they need. I struggled to pay attention in class because my mind was always racing, and my anxiety often made me sick enough to miss school because I had days where the thought of leaving the house was terrifying and I could not do it. Being in school is crucial for a child to be able to learn. Therefore, as a teacher I would focus on my student’s mental health and make my classroom welcoming to students who are struggling. For example, having a space in the room where children can go to have some quiet time. School can be overwhelming and being able to take some time away is important. As a student I know I would have benefitted from something like this.

Ever since I was little my parents have told me that you should do something you feel is important with your life, and to me educating youth is important. Children are our future and without teachers we could not progress as a society. I feel my experiences in school as a child and teenager have ultimately brought me to become the person I am today. Because as children we spend most of our time in school or in extracurricular activities, our teachers spend almost as much time with us as our parents do. I am looking forward to my career as a teacher and to have to opportunity to make a positive impact on my students lives, as many of my teachers have. I also cannot wait to contribute to my community through teaching and create memories that will last a lifetime.