"Leaders are made, they are not born. They are made by hard effort, which is the price which all of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile." -Vince Lombardi

It isn't easy being a leader, especially in an environment that is unfamiliar. Teaching was not my area of study when I was an undergrad. In fact, I had no knowledge on teaching techniques or strategies when I started my first year of teaching. Although teaching was not my first choice, I always had that interest in being a part of a child's educational path.

In order to become an effective teacher, I signed up for as many professional development one can take. I spoke with colleagues who have been in the system for years and asked them questions that would help me manage my classroom. I took leadership roles in several tasks in order to address concerns in the school. I did what ever it took to ensure that the students receive quality education. I studied hard for the Praxis I and II which ended up with the school system certifying me as a highly qualified teacher. I sacrificed my time, because I knew that if I went into a classroom without the knowledge needed to teach a class, I was setting the students up for failure.

Personal Leadership will further enhance my ability to teach and lead. I don't plan to stay in the classroom for the rest of my career. I hope that one day, I will be able to lead and guide a school. I am expecting this class to provide me with the skills and tools to manage a range of individuals from a small group to a larger scale, the whole school. With my level of commitment, I am determined to branch out and become a versatile member of my school.