Allow me to introduce myself ...

Hello! My name is Kristine Martinez and I recently received my Bachelors in Childhood Education from Auburn University at Montgomery, located in Montgomery, Alabama.

My road to becoming an elementary teacher was a long one. I fondly remember demanding my sister and our friends to sit down on my parents patio and listen to me as I taught them Spanish. I took a massively large pencil, a tri-fold display board, and post-it notes and made that patio into MY classroom. My most favorite memories were made on that patio. 

As years passed by and it was time to start thinking about what I wanted to do with my life, I forgot about that time when I played "teacher" on my parents patio. I listened to the chatter around me - from my friends, their parents, their parents friends - and decided that I wanted to go into Nursing. "Nursing is the best route to go," they said.  "You'll make a lot of money in Nursing," they said. They said it, I listened. Who doesn't want to make a lot of money? At 17, that's ALL I was concerned about. Give me the moolah and I'll give you my life. And that's what it felt like when I finally went to college as a Nursing major.
(More power to the nurses and future nurses of the world who are truly passionate about what they do. High fives to them all because I could never do their job.) 

So I knew I had to make a change. At the end of my sophomore year, I decided to be undecided. Best decision ever. During that time, I thought. I thought a lot. I also spent a lot of money. I found myself actually buying books that said they could determine what career I should be in, as long as I took their tests and forked over $50. What a waste. I knew what I wanted to be but I was scared. But I had to do this for myself. I was 20, unhappy, and scared about my future. I had to do something, for once, that would make me happy. And that I did. I went to AUM and changed my major and almost danced out of that office after I signed the papers that made it official.

Making that decision and going through AUM's tough Childhood Ed. curriculum was ... it was an experience. Their Literacy class was intense. Their Early Childhood internship was mind blowing. But it was fun. It was worth it. I was happy.

So it with this blog that I will begin preparing myself for the crazy world that is Education. Education -to me a least - is the best career out there. What other professional can offer the AMOUNT of opportunities that we as educators can? We teach, we inspire, and we give opportunities to a successful life. Can't wait to begin my journey!