“For a really long time, I didn’t think I wanted to be a teacher. I swapped what I wanted to do a lot growing up. I wasn’t a little kid that had one thing and stuck with it. The main [job] I wanted to have was a [wedding planner] because I have always loved planning events and parties since I was little. Combining all of these led me to think wedding planning might be a great fit.
Immediately, out of college, I got a wedding planning certification and soon realized it wasn’t for me anymore because I was not going to be making enough money to make it feasible for the time being. I moved into art school and realized it was too subjective. Afterwards, I moved into a science background and majored in biology with a minor in chemistry. I specifically focused on bacterial pathogens, the little, tiny, microscopic stuff that makes you sick and I loved that. I got to work in two research labs while working with pathogens. Those outlets ended up just being more of hobbies. I didn’t enjoy the straight lab work from the research facilities so I ended up choosing a job where I could share my excitement and experience with future generations.
I decided to settle on teaching, and I haven’t looked back. I thought I wanted to do elementary education [but] my husband said I should do a core subject, so if I ever change my mind, I can teach at a higher grade level or try something else. I liked science, but I was scared of it. I didn’t think I could handle it, but my husband encouraged me to go for it and it went very well. The next year, I taught biology, forensic science and aquatic science at Rock Canyon High School in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, a top school in the state. Both the forensics and the aquatic curricula I built from the ground up, and both of those classes ended up thriving so much that I had a full course load with them at my school for the next few years. I got to the point where those programs grew so much that they had to bring in other teachers to help me teach them, which was really exciting.
I love science. I like to be able to have those conversations with people and be able to see the science light up in [student’s] faces.
I like to think connecting with students is the thing I’m best at with teaching, and hopefully this comes through with the classes this year. I try really hard to make sure this is a safe space for my students and that they feel comfortable. If life happens, I get that. I’ve learned how to connect with students, how to read those expressions and how to read the room.
I am here for my students 110 percent.”
Davis Adams • Sep 11, 2024 at 8:19 pm
Naomi, Ayana: this is a great story! It’s really cool to see how proud she is of teaching and how passionate she is for it, as well as the fact that earlier on in her life education wasn’t really a part of her plan. Fun read! 😀