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“Most of the time,
your dreams lie outside of your comfort zone, in unfamiliar
territory,” reflects graduating senior Allen Lea. “It makes all
the difference to step out there and go for your dreams.”
Lea, who will earn a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood
Education degree in May, says that at one point in his life the
thought of teaching felt a lot like striving toward an
“impossible dream.”
A self-described shy youth, Lea recalls that he at one time
viewed himself as lacking the self confidence to believe he
could face a classroom full of students all day long.
“Growing up I was kind of shy, and I felt that public speaking
wasn’t for me. But my youth pastor encouraged me to lead the
group sometimes when he was away, and it was through these
amazing opportunities that I discovered my passion for teaching.
It is such a remarkable feeling to be able to share wisdom and
knowledge with others.”
Soon, Lea will be sharing with – and teaching – fifth graders at
Pleasant Grove Elementary School when he begins his first
teaching appointment in August.
“I’ll be spending a lot of time this summer preparing for my
students’ arrival in the fall,” he says. “Everyone tells me that
the first year of teaching is very challenging. I want to be as
prepared as possible. My students deserve the very best that I
have to offer.” |
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Lea feels as though
Dalton State has prepared him well for the challenges, and he
says he’s especially grateful for an eye-opening assessment he
received from one of the teachers he worked with in the field.
“When she filled out her assessment form on the quality of my
teaching demonstrated in her classroom, she gave me a low score
in the area of initiative.’ I asked her about it, thinking that
surely she had made a mistake.”
“She told me that the rating was not a mistake. She said, ‘I see
so much more potential in you. Don’t be afraid to step out
there, take educated risks, and give it your all.’
“After she said that, I started setting greater goals for myself
each and every day; truly stepping outside of my comfort zone.
All that can be asked of anyone is to give his/her all. I see
her comments for what they were – an excellent learning
opportunity.”
Lea is pleased to have chosen the profession of teaching because
he wants to “give back” to others in honor of those who have
made a difference in his own life.
“I’ve had a number of amazing educational opportunities set
before me. I feel very fortunate and blessed to have experienced
each and every one of them. I simply love working with children,
knowing that I can make a lasting difference in their lives.”
Lea, who maintains a 3.75 grade point average, plans to teach
for one year before entering a graduate degree program, most
likely in educational technology.
“I will keep teaching while I pursue advanced degrees, and I
hope to one day attain my educational specialist degree, maybe
in leadership.”
In his spare time, Lea enjoys reading, being involved in his
church, spending time with friends, designing web pages, and
occasionally, picking up a paintball gun. Over the next few
years, he hopes to save money to buy a house and a motorcycle
and perhaps join a baseball league – a sport he’s missed playing
ever since the academic demands of his bachelor’s degree have
increased.
“Life has a way of taking you down so many uncharted paths. When
I first came to Dalton State, I had planned to study computer
science. But along the way, I decided to give teaching a shot,
and I fell in love with it. I’m really looking forward to what
lies ahead!”
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