Reading My Essay From My College Applications... HD

I wrote this when I hated writing. Hated it. Keep this in mind haha. College applications were a dark time in my life. But hey it got me into UC Berkeley so I guess I was doing something right? Essay: How hard can two weeks be? I thought. After a week of intensive training, I arrived at Jeou Fen Elementary school, perched on a mountain in Taiwan. With lesson plan in hand, I honestly believed I was ready. I was participating in the AID (Assisting Individuals with Disadvantages) program to teach English in rural villages. I had worked in a similar program in China two years before and felt well prepared for this experience. I was in for a huge surprise. “Teacher! We know these words already!” students immediately shouted. Everything went downhill from there. By the end of the day, I had not only thrown out my lesson plan, but had also exhausted discipline techniques I learned in training. My students could not have cared less about my authority. Because of my personal focus on school, I believed that my diligence would ensure success. I was angry at myself. How could I have been so naïve? The myriad of surprises on that first day of teaching caused me to let go of my expectations; no amount of training was enough to tackle this real-life task of teaching. In one day, I learned the difference between taking a class and teaching one. I was now the person in charge with no one to guide me. Realizing that teaching is an interactive process required me to adjust, based on students’ responses. During my China experience, I simply followed the schedule, and students gave me their hearts. Now, however, I faced ten-year-olds who demanded more, who saw me as a peer rather than an authority figure. This year, giving only my time was not enough; I also had to give myself. Regaining confidence, I tailored lesson plans to each day’s events. Every night I spent hours brainstorming different kinds of learning games and songs. My new, flexible mindset made teaching easier and much more effective. I felt proud when students excitedly raised their hands to participate. By the second week, lessons felt more like fun than work, and learning English had replaced swordplay with water bottles. My students now looked up to me. It was hard to believe that we had become so attached to each other so quickly. At our closing ceremony, I was touched when my students performed the songs that I taught them - even though their pronunciation wasn’t perfect. I discovered that I truly enjoyed teaching. This program helped me understand that working hard doesn’t guarantee success; one has to expect the unexpected and push through obstacles. In the end, I gained more than I gave. I went into the AID program thinking I had much to offer and ready to take on the task, but came out astonished at how much I, myself, had learned. Overcoming unexpected challenges makes any experience more meaningful. I discovered how powerful the ability to change can be. Now I look forward to change and