How I Became An English Ed Major

This is a piece I wrote for a very special English teacher I once had. 

She was my Louder Than A Bomb coach, who was amazing.

[There was going to be a picture of our Slam team here, but it wont work. :(]

Diana Zwinak is the woman who got me where I am today; she is also the founder of a Non-Profit Organization I am a member of called Teen Writers And Artists Project.

[There was going to be a picture of me and her here but it wont work either. :(]

A very wise teacher once told me

To color with all the crayons in the box.

Now?

I color with all the office supplies.

I thank that wonderful woman

For bringing color into my life

And not just the literal color,

But the metaphorical ones too

Now I see a bad day as gray

With hints and flecks of red

And I paint you a picture

With my words.

I don’t know how I do it

And I have no clue why

But she has helped me to see my gift

And taught me how to use it.

Now I want to do the same

I want to inspire

I want to help.

I want to be that teacher that I had.

The one that at least one student

One writer

One person

One life to change, to make better

To help at least one person.

The way you helped me.

The way you inspired me.

The way you taught me to interpret the ramblings of my mind

And turn it into art.

So thank you.

If not for you, I would not be here.

At this desk

Writing this poem

Procrastinating doing my Intro to American Education homework.

Because of you, I am here

Trying to become an English teacher

Holding back tears

And holding onto the past

As I reach for the future.

Because I hope that I can bring part of you

To my students,

Because that’s one of the best things

I can ever give them.

So thank you,

I can’t even fathom

The impact you’ve had on my life.

But I need to tell you.

Because you need to know that

You are the reason I'm here.

Again, I feel that my weeks end on Sundays, therefore this is my post from last week.  I really am glad that I am an English Ed major, and for those who have read my CA-1, you really can tell how much Diana Zwinak has influenced my life. She is an amazing woman and I can only hope that you had a teacher like her in your life. She always did say that we should color with all the crayons in the box. She probably still does. But what that always meant is to never let someone’s view of you effect what you write about or how you write it. Write it however you want to, because writing is expression, and only you know how to express yourself.