Brittany Enos

EDU 201
12/5/2021

Philosophy of Education

I must be honest and upfront from the start. I didn’t always want to be a teacher. In

fact, it was my plan B. My dream was to become an actress. I pursued that for a while and even

ended up doing a few movies and moving to Los Angeles for my chance at stardom. Everything

was going great until the pandemic hit. I was just starting to get into the swing of things and my

plans shifted. I had lost my 9 to 5 job and thought I’d take the opportunity to go back to school.

Through the Covid-19 pandemic, I realized how important it was to have a steady and reliable

job. It was time for my plan B. After enrolling at CSN, I realized how important school was to

me. I had missed it. This semester has changed my prospective. Teaching is now my plan A.

I have always had a soft spot for kids. Ever since I was young, I wanted to be an aunt.

When I finally became one, I played the crap out of the role. I now have 9 nieces and nephews,

all which whom I love. Although I have a more personal connection with the older nieces and

nephews, my cup is filled when I interact with the little ones. I love teaching them new things. I

love showing them the world and seeing their faces when they are excited about things that are

new to them. Observing for 20 hours in a classroom this semester has proven that I am now on

the right path to teach kindergarten. When it comes time to teach, I can use my experience I

have as an aunt. I am an extremely patient person. I am open to new ideas and different ways

of doing or looking at things. I enjoy making things fun for the kids to help them learn. I can

easily connect with kids, so they are comfortable with me, see me as a friend, and respect me

at the same time.

With the current events taking place in schools, such as the school shootings, I know

that now can be a scary time to enter the education field. Some may be too afraid. Some don’t

have the patience. I know that planning to work as an educator in Clark County is taking a risk.

The teachers are underpaid, and the schools lack funding. This can make teaching very difficult.

Las Vegas also has a high crime and drug rate. With all of that to consider, it doesn’t change the

fact that I love kids, and want to be a part of their story. I want to teach them new things and

watch them grow. If I don’t, then who will? I am willing to take the risk even if it means

suffering some of the negative side effects that comes along with teaching.

I know that there is a lot of expectations from teachers. Specifically with Common Core

Standards and Standardized testing. Because of these things, teachers don’t have as much

freedom with lesson planning as they used to. Things are constantly changing when it comes to

curriculum and requirements. I am fine with most of it, as long as I am able to implement my

own style when teaching the required material. Every student learns differently, and it is my job

to figure out what that is for each of them. It is important to pay attention to the progress of

each child to make sure they are understanding and learning the material as easily as they can.

Recognizing that each student is different is what will set me apart from other teachers.

My goal as a teacher is also to implement new ideas. Although I don’t have many at this

time, one special program I’d like to implement involves teenage girls. Although I do not want

to teach at the high school level, I have always wanted to create a program for high school girls.

Primarily, the group will help empower women by creating an environment for them to feel

safe, while discussing important topics only teenage girls can relate to. We will touch on
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EDU 201
12/5/2021

sensitive topics such as sex, rape, abuse, and much more. I plan on having a school counselor or

therapist present, along with motivational speakers throughout. If other schools in the country

follow suit, it could make a huge difference.

Behavior is something every teacher endures. Whether they like it or not, every grade

level involves kids with behavior problems. It’s how you handle them is what makes you a great

teacher. For most kids, kindergarten is their first time being in a controlled classroom with

other kids. They are beginning to learn how to interact and socialize with other kids their age.

This can cause friction, but the tiny minds are growing and it’s our job to help shape them into

nice human beings. The saying goes, “start em young” for a good reason. I want to teach the

kids that kindness goes a long way. I want them to understand that we all have bad days

sometimes and that’s ok, but it’s never acceptable to be rude or hurtful. I want my students to

know that it’s ok to show every emotion, even if it’s an angry one, but that they should ask for a

minute to step away and gather themselves before taking it out on someone else.

In my opinion, the most important quality a teacher must have is patience. It can go a

long way in this profession. There will be days when I will question whether or not I chose the

right career, and that’s ok. Taking deep breaths and reminding myself why I am there is the key

to happiness.

I look forward to finishing my education at CSN at the end of the spring semester. I will

be graduating with my Associates Degree and moving on to a university. My plan is to apply to

UNLV. If I am accepted, I will take the summer off to relax (I deserve it), and then come fall, I

plan on diving headfirst into my bachelor’s degree. Once I graduate, I hope to find a school
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EDU 201
12/5/2021

nearby my house in Henderson to teach kindergarten. If this is a challenge, I will become a

substitute teacher in the meantime. Once I gain full-time employment teaching, I plan on

getting my master’s degree. Not only will it expand my education, but it will also make me more

money. That is always a plus. Although I have this plan mapped out, things may shift again for

whatever reason, and I will accept that and adjust.