Running head: AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL ESSAY

Autobiographical Essay
Regan Orgeron
Professor Carol Billing
EDU 201 Foundations of Education

2
AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL ESSAY

Introduction
Most of my adult life, I dreamed of becoming a teacher. In my 42 years of life
experience, I have gained a unique background that I believe will help me accomplish my dream
of teaching. In the following sections I have outlined my life, dreams, and struggles. Everything I
have experience in my life has lead me to this educational journey I am on. I may not ever be the
best teacher, but I will never stop trying to be the best teacher I can be.
Educational Background
I spent my childhood growing up in Raceland, Louisiana. Raceland is a small town in the
southern part of Louisiana in Lafourche Parish. In my home town families are tight knit, and
fishing and hunting is the way of life. Early on, I attended Raceland Lower Elementary for my
kindergarten through third grade years. Most of my teachers during these years lived in the same
neighborhood has my parents. You could image how hard it was to get out of homework when
your teachers are drinking coffee with your parents on the back porch of your house.
I attended my fourth through sixth grade years at Raceland Upper Elementary. This
school was bigger than the lower elementary, but I had the same problem with homework, most
of the teachers were friends with my parents. I could never escape the clutches of homework. I
didnt know it back then, but living in a small town and attending small schools, taught me more
than just math, English, and history. It taught me ownership and pride of my own work. It also
taught me that parent involvement is a vital part of early education. It builds a foundation for the
rest of your life.
Junior High School was very different from my elementary school years. Junior High
covered seventh grade through ninth grade. The school name was Raceland Junior High, but it

3
AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL ESSAY

coved more than just the little town of Raceland. The classes were bigger and more diverse. The
junior high is where I first experienced organized school sports. There was some culture shock
for me, but I began to make friends with kids that were different from me through school
athletics. When I got to high school my sophomore class was over 1000 students. This was
going to be my graduating class. This class was huge, it was going to be the biggest class in
Central Lafourche High School history. From this point forward, all my classes were full, well
over 30 students in every class. I learned a lot about school overcrowding, but the foundation I
had from my early school years would play a huge part in my life. I already knew how to work
hard in school and sports.
It was during my high school years when I realized teaching is what I wanted to do. I
thought teaching was a great way to make a difference in the lives of so many people at one time.
When I completed high school there was not enough money for college. I had two older brothers,
both of them were in college already. I went to work in a shipyard for the next three years. I
saved enough money to attend trade school. I went to South Louisiana Technical College for a
two year degree in telecommunication. I lost sight of my teaching dream, but never forgot it.
Over the next 20 years I worked in the telecommunication field. This field of work has been
good to me, I have advanced and moved around the country in the last 20 years, but there is still
something missing. I want to teach. Now I am enrolled in the College of Western Idaho in the
Secondary Education program. I hope in the fall of 2016 to enroll at Boise State University, and
complete my goal of becoming a teacher.
Work History Service and/or Extracurricular Activities

4
AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL ESSAY

I began working at an early age, about 12 years old. I was living the dream, working for
myself, cutting grass and doing other types lawn work. I didnt earn a lot of money, but I learned
early, the value of a dollar, and by working hard, I was able to get the things I wanted. At that
time, things like a new bike, baseball glove and new football were high on my list of must haves.
When I was 15, I took a part time job working at the local grocery store. In the beginning,
I was only bagging groceries, and picking up shopping carts in the parking lot. As time passed,
and I advanced in my high school years, I gained more responsibilities at the grocery store. I was
stocking shelfs and unloading trucks. It wasnt too long after that, I was training new hires. The
last year I was there, I moved into the dairy department. I was in charge of ordering and
restocking that department. This job wasnt difficult, but I learned a lot about responsibility and
ownership of my work. During these years this job allow me to buy my first car.
When I was finished with high school, I left the grocery store for a job making more
money. I went to work in a shipyard on the Mississippi River. I took this job to earn money for
college. Over the next three years, I earned money. I also learned how to weld, and I became a
shipfitter. This was some of the hardest physical work I had ever done. It was three years of hard,
hot work. Bending a shaping metal had become my way of life, until I saved enough money for
school.
When I completed electronics school, I got a job working at the local telephone company
in my home town. I was working in the internet department, and learned about team work, and
how to get things done with a small crew of people. Over the next few years, I advanced in the
internet department, until I was moved in the Central Office. This was the main hub of
operations for the telephone company. I didnt know it at the time, but this local job was just a

5
AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL ESSAY

starting point for my next job at Verizon. In my 10 years at Verizon, I have worked in the Data
Repair Center, Major Accounts, and Education. I worked with million dollar accounts, and I
have trained dozens of people in the United States and overseas.
Throughout my history of schooling and work, I never lost sight of becoming a teacher.
Some of my best memories of these past jobs were helping, and teaching others how to
accomplish their own goals.
Ethical Reasoning in Education
Social media offers space for cutting-edge teaching in classrooms. However, they also
pose a number of ethical dilemmas for teachers. The popularity of the use of social media is
greatly impacting the educational community including teachers, administrators, students and
their families. This current generation is growing up with social networks as an essential part of
life. Personal information that was once considered private is increasingly being shared online
through social networks. The public sharing of information can confuse the normal boundaries
between teacher and student, and teacher and colleagues. Young teachers are particularly
susceptible to the consequences of disseminating personal information and pictures that may
implicate them morally and professionally. In the same way that email and texting
communications between educators and students may result in the crossing of the bounds of
appropriate relationships, educators must also understand the dangers of social network sites in
contributing to this as well.
Social networking sites have been the subject of significant negative focus due to
cyberbullying and predatory behavior. This type of negative focus has resulted in a distrust when
planning to use social media in a classroom. However, there are studies that demonstrates,

6
AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL ESSAY

despite the risks, social media has a valued role in communication of classroom management,
personal relations, character building, imaginative activities, and for learning. With the negative
association of social networking, teachers are left in a difficult position of trying to modernize
their classroom using technology, while at the same time being conscious of the risks.
Social networking can expose a teachers away from school life to greater scrutiny by
their students, colleagues, and school communities. One answer to this problem is for teachers to
only engage with social networking applications that offer a higher degree of privacy and
control. Another strategy is for teachers to create a social networking profile specifically for their
professional work.
In my opinion, social networking should be used for classroom or professional use only
when your career choice is teaching. The job of teaching comes with scrutiny of your personal
life. If you use a social networking site like Facebook for my classroom, I would invite all
parents to participate and follow this social networking profile. I would also engage at least one
colleague to join my social network. Teachers can, and will be held to a higher standard of
conduct than an average citizen. Having parents and colleagues follow your social network
insures transparency and accountably for everyone involved.
Considerations for Choosing Education as a Career
I have been told a 100 times, teaching is a special calling, its not a job well suited to
everyone. I have also been told most new teachers leave within the first three to five years of
teaching. The education field doesnt pay very well. I know these three aspects are facts. They
are not old wise tales told to scare people off from education as a career. Teaching is hard work

7
AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL ESSAY

and long hours, and not a lot of pay, are accolades. The reason I know I will make a great teacher
is that in spite of these things, teaching is the only thing I have wanted to do since the age of 18. I
have been successful in the field of telecommunications for the last 20 years of my life. I was
well suited to the field of telecommunications, as it requires long hours and at times, working in
strange weather conditions. Just like teaching, not everyone is willing to do that kind of work.
I struggled as a student in high school, sometimes it was hard to keep focused on the big
picture. Then you get that one, maybe two teachers, if youre lucky, along the way that shine a
light on education. Teachers that care can really make a difference in the daily life of students. I
think its the students success that really drives a teacher to continue in this field. Each student
who didn't understand a concept and then learned it through your help can be exhilarating. And
when you actually reach that student that others have written off as being unteachable, this can
truly be worth all the headaches that do come with the job of teaching. I believe teachers have
the ability to mold the future each day in class. As a teacher I will see some of these students
more consistently than their parents will. This is opportunity to make a difference, or at least
have a positive impact on the future.
Outside of teaching, I have given a lot of thought to coaching at the high school level along with
teaching. Currently I do some part-time coaching in youth leagues. I enjoy working with the kids
at this level a great deal. Not everyone thinks coaching youth sports or high school sports is very
important. It may not seem like much work to some people, but its a chance to have some
impact on these kids which will last a lifetime. Coaching much like teaching, will help shape the
way students live their lives. It has been said many times, Kids never forget their coach, and

8
AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL ESSAY

your name will always be coach to them. I think statement alone says it all. To this day, I still
call my high school football coach, Coach and I say it with respect.
Professional Goals
I have always kept a list of short term and long term goals as it pertains to my person life
and professional life. Its no different with this life changing endeavor I am on to become a high
school teacher. I believe a short term goal, is any goal, which you set for yourself that can be
accomplished within 12 months. Usually my short term goals are smaller parts of bigger, longer
term goals that I have broken down into more manageable parts. My long-term goals are
something I want to accomplish in the future. Most long-term goals require plenty time and
planning. They are not something I can make happen in a week or even a year. Long-term goals
are usually at least several years away. For me, completing college is several years away.
Completing this program at the College of Western Idaho was once my long term two
year goal. Now with one spring semester left, completing this program has become a short term
goal. In the spring I hope to take a course load that will allow me to complete the secondary
education program at this community college. Also during that time, I would like to try my hand
at substitute teaching. Spending as much time in the class room as I can, will only help my
confidence as a teacher.
Once completing the College of Western Idaho, Boise State University will be my new
two-year goal. I would like to get my degree in History, Social Sciences in Secondary Education.
Most students are in college because they seek knowledge, or guidance for the next steps in their
life. At the age of 42, I know how I want to live my life. I know what my own ethics are, and

9
AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL ESSAY

what is needed to succeed. Though graduation from college may be a long-term goal, since it
will take several more years to complete. I am sure this is the path I want to be on. I know
teaching is a challenging job with many unique frustrations, but for me, the rewards of teaching
are unexplainable.
Once I become a licensed teacher, and I am working in the field, my education will not
stop. In addition to working in the classroom, I will pursue my Masters Degree in either
Administration or Guidance Counselor. For many people, their work is a means to an end. They
work for a paycheck in order to live their lives. But those who love to teach have a true passion
in life. I cant wait to see what life as in store for me.