My stomach growls during fourth period math class just before lunch. I'm hungry. My mind frolics among the different equations being written on the board as I debate in my mind how I will spend my money on lunch. My teacher, Ms. Martin, interrupts my daydreams by picking me to answer a question on the blackboard. She has a knack for getting the best of me; prodding my in-class effort like she's making fire with flint. Due to her efforts I have a newfound love for math; a love which propelled me to major in applied math and economics in college. It also influenced me to spend a semester teaching introductory economics as a teaching assistant.

Seven months after my college graduation I sit at my office desk staring blankly into my monitor. I just had lunch somewhere at a hot dog stand in midtown Manhattan, but something important occurs to me; I'm still hungry. Hungry for something more than Excel sheets, job security, and financial stability. Much like Ms. Martin never let me settle for less than average, I refuse to let myself settle for mediocrity. I long for something that will give me a greater challenge; something that will let me use my talents to directly impact those who are in a greater need than I am.

I never knew how math would play a role in my life, but now that I can connect the dots, I see that my experiences in learning math can be applied to an upcoming generation of children experiencing the adverse effects of a harsh recession. I received the tools in high school that determined my future success through the investment of a teacher's time and effort. I now wish for the opportunity to be that sort of teacher to students who need it the most. By leading a classroom of students, I will play an active role in mitigating the effects of educational inequity, instead of watching hopelessly from the vapid safety of my cubicle as kids struggle with mathematics. Teaching would allow me to experience the reward of a steadfast pursuit to discover a student's fullest capabilities.

The rewards for being an educator can be measured in the various skill sets that are learned. I hope to learn the skill of effective communication towards my students, their parents, and my colleagues. Whether it will be teaching the rules of derivatives to an individual student or explaining the grades on a report card to a parent, it is essential to be able to present ideas in a clear and understandable manner. It is this type of multi-tiered communication that makes any leader great and gives them the confidence to manage a group of people.

It is a leadership that will have several applications in my own life. Someday it will help me to communicate to the student half-asleep in the back of the class that their dreams are worth more than any lunch they'll ever have.



Note:
Photo above was another dream - to study abroad and see Australia.