Kelly Trego – English Education Internship

My name is Kelly Trego and this semester I have been interning at Garden Spot High School with Mr. Weidman’s ninth grade English class. I was given the privilege to experience the teaching profession with a kind and hard-working group of students. Since I started high school, I felt the calling to pursue a career in teaching because I am passionate about helping others. While I faced many personal challenges along the way, I have already gained so much knowledge with this opportunity. I am now certain that I want to take this passion seriously and work hard to do my best in my own future classroom.

When I began my journey as a teacher intern, I was fearful that I would fail. While I love the art of writing, I find it difficult to explain the process to others. With the help of Mr. Weidman, I have worked with the students one on one to overcome my worries. My first duty as an intern was to learn how to use the copier. It was surprising to me how many responsibilities teachers have that students do not see. In between classes, teachers need to make copies and have everything set up for the next class. Next, I was responsible for teaching the students how to maintain healthy relationships through the book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens. While I was very nervous to teach in front of my peers, I made the best of it and gained a lot of confidence from the experience.

Furthermore, my weekly tasks include making copies, grading quizzes, and helping the students with their weekly vocabulary. Overtime, I have learned a lot about the students’ individual personalities, and it brings me so much joy to play a part in their educational journey.

Currently, I am working on a lesson about comma splices so the students can continue developing their writing skills. Moving forward, I am confident I can make an impact on the students along with Mr. Weidman so they can be ready for what is to come in tenth grade. The biggest challenge I have to overcome is learning how to guide students through the writing process without making corrections for them. The easy route is to change any mistakes myself and move forward but that is not what the students need to grow. I will learn how to assist the students with recognizing mistakes and learning the process to fix them.

Overall, the experience has been enlightening and confirmed that I want to pursue a career in education. Every time I was able to help a student with their work, I felt so much joy. I will only continue to get to build relationships with each student and try my best to make a difference in their life. Through this privilege, my eyes opened to how important the teaching profession really is. In and out of the classrooms, teachers help students reach their full potential and make the most of their education. I cannot wait to see what the rest of my internship has to offer for both myself and the incredible students I work with.