When I first started my educational journey my philosophy was very different from what it is today. There were always so many reasons why I wanted to become a teacher. It was hard to decipher what I believed in and how I want my classroom environment to be like. It was not until my second practicum that I really knew what my philosophy statement was going to be. 
           I believe in fostering a safe, warm, and welcoming environment for my students so that they can grow into life long learners. Throughout my educational journey, and even as a guest teacher, I was in schools where the students did not always have the best home life nor had the resources at home to really succeed and this affected the students in school. They failed a test or acted up, and I watched my mentor take the time to really figure out what was going on with the students. He would sit down with a student who was having a hard day and really discuss what the issue was and try to come to a conclusion. I admired that and I set out to do the same. I do not want to be a teacher just to mold the minds of students, but also to be there for them if no one else is. I want to open up my classroom doors to students who need a place to hang out, or someone to talk to. Every student deserves a friend when they are being bullied, every student deserves a tutor when they find math challenging, and every student deserves every opportunity to grow and prosper no matter the life that they live or the challenges they face. I believe in going above and beyond for these children because they deserve it.