For those who do not know, I am a teacher! I just finished my second year and if I could give you a few words to describe my experience, it would be: a beautiful roller-coaster ride. Mine was a bumpy ride, too but I won’t get into all that right now. What I can confidently say is Teaching is in my blood.
My father’s side of the family is full of educators. My late grandmother(father’s mom) was an educator in Trinidad and retired as a Vice Principal. I have two uncles who were educators: one in Trinidad and one in Brooklyn. I have an aunt who was an educator in Brooklyn. My father was an educator in Trinidad and in Brooklyn.
Want to know what’s crazy? I am the only teacher in my generation. Being a teacher was never on the top of my list but there has always been this desire in me to teach the youth that I was never able to escape.
I joined a program called Springs of Hope, as a part of my alma mater’s teacher induction program. We were asked to pick any ancestor of ours who inspires us to this day. I picked my late grandmother, who happened to be a teacher. I gave a slideshow presentation about her life and I found it very special that we chose the same career.
My first two years were incredibly difficult, enough so, to make one question if this was even the right path. Endless tears, numerous doubts, wanting to quit and give up, and maybe try a different path. However, my desire to teach has grown stronger, even after going through some of the hardest days of my life. It is in my blood, and every-time I want to quit, I think of my family members who also chose this path, did not give up and succeeded. I honestly have a passion for teaching and this is only the beginning for me. I can’t wait to see what my future holds. Teaching is in my blood.
Dominique 