Why did you want to be a teacher?

When I was in kindergarten I had a wonderful teacher by the name of Mrs. Dellmo. Mrs. Dellmo was soft spoken, understanding, and encouraging, she was the best teacher I ever had. Mrs. Dellmo would always get onto me about biting my nails, and she promised me that if I would just let my nails grow out she would buy me whatever color nail polish I desired. I tried very hard all year but could never accomplish my goal. As I moved on to first grade, then second grade, Mrs. Dellmo would still catch me in the hall or at lunch and ask to see my nails, but as usual they were always bit down. All through elementary school I tried not to bite my nails so that when, out of the blue, Mrs. Dellmo would check my hands she would be proud of me and praise me for my accomplishment, because it was always a sought after goal to win her approval. But as the years passed by I got caught up in high school, with the boyfriends, sports, work, prom, and friends. I forgot about Mrs. Dellmo's kindergarten class and devout promise to me concerning my bad habit, until one day I had got news that her and her daughters had been on a family vacation and got into an accident and were in very bad condition. I'll spare you the horrifying details of her accident, but know that if she survived, she would never really be the same. I prayed and prayed for her and her daughters, and remembered all the time and effort that Mrs. Dellmo put into each and everyone one of us children to make us better people. And I decided then that I was definitely going to stop biting my nails, and if I got to see Mrs. Dellmo again I was going to show her that I had finally overcome the bad habit and that I was ready to accept her gift. It happened one day while I was at work in Applebee's. Mrs. Dellmo and one of her daughters came in for lunch and I almost jumped over the podium to hug her. I told her that I was so excited to see her, and so thankful for her recovery. She looked at me with the same excited expression and asked to see my hands, for a moment my heart dropped but as I placed my hands in hers she beamed up at me. Brittany your nails are so long and beautiful! I thanked her, and she asked me, "So what nail polish color are you wearing these days?" I told her I didn't care whatever color she chose would be fine. A few days letter she came in with a small bag and handed it to me. Inside was the treasured nail polish in a petal pink, and a small note that told me how proud she was of me. That was one of the best days ever, there was nothing you could do to wipe that smile off my face. Twelve years later I had finally accomplished the goal she wanted for me, but in a way I think it was even more than just the nail biting. She had watched me grow all these years, and helped remind me to be the best person I could be and always do the right thing. I think any teacher who can make such an impact on a five year old is a worthy inspiration in my book. I decided from then on that I wanted to make a difference in a child's life, to have such an impact that they remember me and all the lessons I taught, not just in the classroom, for the rest of their lives. Someone they look up to and always aim to please. Even today as I do my observations and community service I call up Mrs. Dellmo and ask to come to her kindergarten class where she continues to touch young children's lives everyday.