Hannah E.

Baumeister
Autobiography
A question commonly asked throughout our childhood is, What do you want to
be when you grow up? We have all been asked this question, yet often times; the
answer to that question is unknown. Sadly, some people do not realize their
professional calling even well into adulthood. As for me, I never pictured myself being
anything other than a teacher. I have always had a passion for working with children.
When I was a little girl, I would even set up my own classroom. I would seat my dolls
in rows and teach using a dry erase board. I would hand out worksheets for my
students to complete as homework. It just seemed so natural for me. I knew that I
would become a teacher someday.
When I was eleven years old, I began babysitting for neighbors, friends, and
family. I loved being around children, and earning some spending cash was a nice
bonus. In middle school, I was involved in cross-country and softball. In high school, I
became a member of the National Honor Society. I continued babysitting periodically,
and worked evenings and weekends, washing dishes at a local restaurant. During my
senior year, I decided to pursue a job working with children. I was hired at a local
daycare. I worked early mornings before school, and into the evenings after school. In
the morning, my job was to serve the children breakfast and get them off to school. In
the afternoons, I helped them with their homework.
Also during my senior year, I completed a work-study as a teachers aide in the
Early Childhood classroom. I experienced hands-on what it was like to work with
children ages three to four. I assisted the children with crafts and played educational
games with them. I helped them learn colors, letters, and numbers. I also had the
opportunity to observe how the teacher taught in her classroom. Seeing her interact
with the children first-hand and observing her teaching style helped reinforce my desire
to be a teacher. One thing that I admired about the teachers style of teaching was how
she taught the children independence and reinforced the daily classroom routines in a
positive manner. I saw the children make huge gains from the beginning of the school

year. The children became verbal, more socially interactive, and more independent
each day. It truly warmed my heart to be a part of that experience, and I look forward to
enriching the lives of many students in the years to come.
In 2011, I was accepted to attend the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater to
become a Special Education teacher. After completing a year there, I decided that I
wanted to be closer to my home and my family. I transferred to the University of
Wisconsin-Platteville to pursue a major in Elementary Education with a minor in Early
Childhood Education. While completing my college coursework, I held a position as a
work-study at the campus Childrens Center, working about 15 hours a week. This
allowed me to gain additional experiences working with children. At the Childrens
Center, I worked in the two-year-old room and the three to five year old room. The
Center had a program for school-aged children and I was able to assist them with
homework a couple of days a week. My experiences there afforded me the opportunity
to work with children of various ages, which gave me insight into the learning abilities
and teaching demands of different age groups.
During my summers, I worked as a counselor at a day camp in Richland
Center, WI. The camp was for children ages six through twelve. A typical day was
spent doing art projects, playing organized sports, swimming, and going on weekly field
trips. Due to my level of experience and responsible nature, I was assigned the added
duties of training new employees, leading group activities, and creating weekly lesson
plans. I enjoyed the challenges of working at this camp. It opened my eyes to the
importance of meeting the learning needs while maintaining the interest levels of a
varying age group of children.
I have encountered many teachers who have been a great inspiration to me and
who display various qualities that I admire. Of these qualities, I believe the most
important are responsibility, organization, love, and dedication. As a future educator, I
believe that I possess these qualities, as well. I have shown responsibility by holding a
job since the age of sixteen, while also earning high honors in school. In addition to
being responsible, I am also extremely organized. I keep my possessions neatly
organized and in their place. I would bring this organization into my classroom to
maintain an orderly, effective learning place. Love is another trait that I possess. I am a

very loving person, and I care deeply for the people around me. If a child is struggling
in my classroom, I will be there for them every step of the way to ensure that they get
the best education possible. Children need reassurance that their teacher is there for
them, and that is exactly what I will do.
I will display my dedication not only in my personal life, but also to my students
and their education. When I set my mind to a task, I do not give up until the goal is
attained. For example, one year I resolved to stop biting my nails and refrain from
drinking pop. In September 2014, I followed a strict training program, and I ran my first
half marathon. All of these tasks took dedication and determination, which has and will
always be a part of my life, and it, will continue to be a huge part of my life as a teacher.
Throughout my life, I have shown dedication to my academic work and my job, and this
dedication will carry over into my classroom. Things can get challenging at times, but I
do not give up on them just because they become difficult. This goes for my students
as well. I will not give up on them if they do not understand the material that is being
taught.
In December 2015, I graduated from UW-Platteville. Graduating means that my
dream has now been reached, and I can begin to do what I love which is to teach
children. I want to be able to make a difference in childrens lives and see them make
gains throughout the school year. It is a wonderful feeling for a teacher to help a child
that is struggling to understand a concept. It gives the teacher the feeling of
accomplishment and joy along with that child. Moments like these are what attract me
to the teaching profession. I cannot wait to see what my teaching career has in store for
me!