Motivation

Why are you here (in the teacher education program, in the class, at UVU)?
I have been in college for several years and I have had a couple of different majors but nothing seemed right. Then one day I was at home and one of my roommate's brother came for a visit and he asked me what I was dong in school an what I planned to do with the rest of my future.I stopped and thought about it for a moment then said: "You know if I could do anything I would teach High School history!" And he then looked at me as if, well why don't you do it. That was my turning point, when I realized what I really wanted in life and it was a goal that I could achieve. So the next semester I signed up for classes here at Utah Valley University.

What motivates you?
Failure is not an option for me. So really succeeding is the biggest thing that motivates me. As far as school goes, I made a promise to my Mom when I was a little girl that I would get my degree, even if I never use it but I would get it. Because of some tragedies that happened to my family when I was young, my Mom had to go back to school and she would go at night when my Father and I got home. She had to work twice as hard as she would have if she had just finished school when she was younger and didn't have a family yet. I saw the struggles that she went through to get her degree and I promised her that I would not put myself through hat and my degree now.

Do the goals in your course contract reflect mastery goals or performance goals? What doe this say about you?
I think that my goals were more mastery goals. I tend to be a perfectionist. When a teacher gives me the option to get extra credit I am usually one to do as much as I can.I like to make sure that I master something before moving on.

How do you need to change your motivations and mindset for this class in order to become a great teacher?
I think that I not worry so much about being perfect and realizing that I can do several great things rather than just focusing on one thing.