Amanda Baker teaches math at PACT Charter School, “If I didn’t know her [Amanda] I would think she was an art or music teacher,” said one of her students, “Baker is an amazing teacher. She understands what everyone is going through and she doesn’t judge where you come from.”
I asked Amanda why she wanted to be a teacher and her response was “I actually tried not to be a teacher. I wanted to live a comfortable life style and wanted to deal with math so I figured a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). I tried some classes, got bored but figured I could deal for 30 years because I would retire nicely. I then got a cube job one summer and went bonkers! I got out any time I could. In the meanwhile, I was a camp counselor and tutored on the side. I loved working with kids and teaching them new things. To watch the light bulb come on is so much fun to watch.” She chose math because “I was always good at math and enjoyed the puzzle of it. I had a lot of bad math teachers, but one really good one that inspired me to stick with it.” Amanda’s students inspirer her to keep going, “Even if things are hard they [the students] still try every day.”
PACT is mostly a Christian school so her beliefs fit right in, “I heard it put a really good way why you should choose Christianity over all else. If you are a Buddhist, you go to heaven if you have done enough good works and been a good person. If you are Muslim, you are to do good works and pray to God if you are to go to heaven. If you are Mormon you are to do good works and pray to God if you are to go to heaven... If you are Christian you go to heaven by being a good person, believing in God, and asking Jesus to be your Savior. So in all reality if you are a Christian you would go to heaven for all the other religions as well. Not just that but there is so much evidence archeologically to support Christianity. I took Old Testament Archeology in College and loved it.”
One of Amanda’s favorite quotes is something Albert Einstein said, “Life is x+y+z. X is work, Y is play, and Z is knowing when to keep your mouth shut.” And a Rene Descarte quote “Perfect men are like perfect numbers, very rare.”
Her advice is “I believe that what you think about something will happen... If you think positive, good things happen, if you think negative that will happen. I also think that things need to be reworded when you think it. EX. Don't be late. If you tend to be late instead think on time... I have never been late when I changed my wording to that. I also think that if you smile you will feel better. “
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I like the final advice quote. I'll try to use that in my everyday life. Today, I experienced a fire; fear for the life and property of friends and family; shock at hearing my car broke down on the way to the hospital and now I'm struggling to get the final pieces of the homework puzzle done.
ReplyDeleteGood job. I really likes some of the quotes you used. One thing to fix next time though, make sure you keep yourself out of the story. You said at one point "I asked Amanda" that is always implied when you use a quote anyway so it doesn't need to be said.
ReplyDeletei really like this story! you did a great job on the quotes and oraganization!!
ReplyDeleteI think you made a great choice with that teacher, she sounds interesting!
ReplyDeleteI loved how you actually used a student's perception on the teacher as well as quotes from that student. It gives your story different angles which are interesting and helps build the overall character readers develop of the teacher. I also really enjoyed the funny little quotes like the perfect men one. It sure made me laugh and boosted a bit of humor to your story.
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