Charles Caves

A Focused Semester

Last semester, I spent 3 hours each week teaching science to a class of 6th grade students. Since middle school I have been very interested in biology, however it was not until high school that I discovered my interest in teaching. Initially, I was a little reluctant because teaching did not seem like something that would be enjoyable. Yet, after guiding my sister through her homework and watching how happy she was to finally understand the material, I realized that teaching was something I was passionate about. Last semester, I was able to help students in struggling neighborhoods, where education was not always value, discover a passion for the sciences such as biology, chemistry, and physics. I tried to incorporate fun teaching strategies that allowed my students to get involved in the material. Instead of just lectures and reading, my students were more involved with the learning process, which I believed helped them realize their own passion. In order to meet the needs of my students, I taught helpful material that will always be relevant in science, such as the different types of cells and the importance of classifying animals. I want to embody the values of my favorite middle school biology teacher, who helped me discover my passion for biology. I know that I would have never made it through some of the more difficult subjects in college without assistance, which is why I believe it is my duty to help younger, struggling students since I now have the ability to. Dedicating my time to teaching younger students really helped me grow as an individual. I became more patient and learned how to better handle different types of personalities. My time teaching helped put into perspective how fortunate of a life I have and the significance of helping others. Last semester, I grew substantially as an individual because of this rewarding experience.