Introduction

I grew up in Nashua, New Hampshire, where I still frequently visit my family. I was an only child for nine years until my parents had two little boys. From that point on, I was always trying to teach them everything, and my role as their big sister fostered my goal of becoming an elementary school teacher. Ever since I started looking into colleges, I knew Wheelock was the place for me. I was drawn to the idea of being surrounded by people who had similar goals as I did, as well as its strong reputation in producing exceptional teachers. At Wheelock I majored in Human Development with a focus in Children, Families, and Culture. I also minored in Theatre, because I have always found enjoyment in theatre and thought it would be something creative to integrate into my classroom. During my freshman and sophomore years, I participated in Jumpstart, working with preschoolers in Roxbury, Massachusetts, first as a one-on-one partner with a child, and then as a team leader to ten of my peers. For my pre-practicum experience, I worked in a fifth grade classroom at the Holmes Elementary School in Dorchester, Massachusetts. I completed my practicum experience in a combined kindergarten and first grade classroom at the Mission Hill School in Roxbury, Massachusetts. Being committed to life-long learning and seeing the diverse needs of students in schools, I went on to pursue a Master's Degree in Special Education at Bank Street College in New York City. I am enjoying learning and am looking forward to being able to apply all that I have learned in a classroom.