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Running Head: AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL ESSAY

Autobiographical Essay
Bonnie Torgerson
Jonathan Lord
Foundations of Education, Fall 2013

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Autobiographical Essay
I must be crazy! Who decides to go to college to become a teacher when theyre 50?
The idea of touching the hearts and minds and lives of students to impact the world for
generations is my motivation. I want to see children rise up to reach their full potentialthe
potential that is inherent in each one of us. I want to inspire students to imagine the possibilities
of what their lives can be, and then make it a reality. How can I lead others unless I first travel
this road of making a possibility a reality? As I survey my pastmy education, work and
service experience, I can see that all roads led me to this place. I have a passion to learn, a
passion to teach, and more than that, I have a passion to help students know the truth of who they
are and help them walk in that reality.
Educational Background
I began my education in first grade at Salmon Pioneer Elementary. Because my mother
chose to go back to college to get her teaching degree when I started school, we moved to Dillon,
Montana where I attended second and third grade. I know I was a good student but memories of
school are a little fuzzy for these years. I remember a particular art class because the teacher
played music as we created masterpieces. It was the first time a teacher had done this, and I
enjoyed the song as it played. It felt like there was a freedom that would have been missing if
the room were quiet. I love the idea of using unconventional methods to teach students.
Once my mother completed her degree, the family moved to Bigfork, Montana where I
finished elementary school at Swan River. It was a small school and we were like a family. We
played intramural sports like softball, soccer, basketball, and volleyball with other schools in the
area. We had good teachers that cared about us and I truly learned. I loved to read and couldnt
wait for the bookmobile to come, bringing more adventures for me to dive into. I also loved

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spelling and competed in a county-wide bee in the eighth grade. The sense of belonging was
important to me, and I know thats something I intend to bring to the classes I teach.
I went on to high school in Bigfork and basically didnt excel at much of anything. I was
a good student and enjoyed learning, but I didnt seem to fit in with the right crowd and I turned
a corner where I wasnt aware of my potential. I was fortunate to have several good teachers, but
I dont remember a specific teacher influencing me or inspiring me. I wish one of them would
have talked to me about my prospects for the future. I had no plans of becoming something
when I grew up. I hope to always inspire my students to consider all that is possible for them to
achieve, and that no matter what, they are cared for and have a place in my classroom and in
society that only they can fill.
Now as I begin this semester of college with the counsel of my advisor taking the
Foundations and Field Experience classes first, Im enjoying considering this career as a teacher
and the options that are open before me. My love for learning and education are definitely a
positive motivation in moving forward, and I cant wait to share it with children!
Work History
I began working when I was thirteen and had summer jobs all through high school
mainly in restaurants. I learned about working in a timely manner, being responsible, and
serving people. I am thankful for these qualities and know they will be valuable in the
classroom.
After graduating from high school, I moved to Houston, Texas where my older sisters
lived. I was not very serious about anything and worked at many jobs in restaurants, offices, and
even did a stint in the toy department of J.C. Penney. I floundered as I still had no goals for my
life, but I gained many skills in the process. I am resolved to encourage every child I come in

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contact with to step out, to try, and to get up when they fail and try again; to never just give up
and let life happen to them but to walk with purpose and dignity.
I was living a pretty wild existence in those days, and never worked anywhere for more
than a year until I was 27. It was then I got a job as Secretary to the National Service Manager
for a Japanese heavy equipment company. I was really interested in computers and taught
myself how to do word processing, publishing and more. I had a variety of duties and enjoyed
the job, as it was not the same thing over and over. At the same time, it was a stressful
environment with the cultural differences between the Japanese and American managers in each
department. That, on top of the fact that I was basically doing the work of two people, led me to
apply for another job. I am grateful for the ability to multi-task, wear different hats, and work
with people of a different culture, and I trust it will serve others well.
I was hired by BMW of North America as a data entry clerk. Again, I found myself
working with another culture, and observed the difference in how to approach people. The job
paid well, gave me the opportunity to drive expensive German cars, and also travel a bit. While
there, I taught myself how to create programs on the computer during my down time. After a
couple of years, the company closed the port facility in Texas. Learning to work with a spirit of
excellence and producing quality products was an important lesson I carried away from my time
there, and I have been blessed to have that become a part of my character.
I got married just after the job ended at BMW and became a mother. During that time, I
did various jobs to supplement our incomebabysitting and keeping books for an attorney just
to name a couple. Finding my purpose in being a mother gave me a more solid footing. More
than just working for a paycheck, I felt a sense of direction that I hadnt known before.

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Our family moved to Montana where we bought a mailing and shipping business. I loved
the variety of duties and providing excellent service to my customers. Although, managing
employees was not my strong suit, I did enjoy owning and managing the business. I definitely
learned a lot about people.
We left Montana and began the adventure of living in an RV to be with my now exhusband on the road as he was a commercial construction superintendent. My oldest son was a
first grader and because of the travelling, I homeschooled him. It was then that I discovered my
love for teaching. The reality of knowing I was the one who had the extreme privilege to guide
him into learning how to read, write, and learn was so amazing!
Since that time I have not worked outside the home to speak of except to do some small
book-keeping jobs. I know my diverse background in serving customers, working with different
personalities and cultures, a strong work ethic, a sense of responsibility to serve and do my best
will be an immense benefit as I become a teacher.
Service and Extracurricular Activities
My love of teaching led me to serve as a Sunday school teacher in many of the churches
Ive attended. I consider it a privilege to have taught some really important lessons to many
children, including my own. The impact of what they learned and the decisions they made, even
at a young age, will affect their lives for generations. I hope I will always provide that same
inspiration no matter where I teach.
While my children attended a private Christian school in Salmon, I volunteered for
several years as a teachers aide and worked with students in all subjects. I enjoyed the small
classes and working with each child. It is always fascinating to me how each student learns and
processes information and it was exciting to sometimes unlock the key to their learning style!

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When my oldest son started high school, I was used to being a part of his education and
didnt want that to end. I volunteered one morning a week at the high school his freshmen year.
My goal was not to assist in any of his classes, but to get to know the high school and the people
hed spend his day with. At the same time, I wanted to help teachers and other students. I really
enjoyed working with the students who were struggling and giving them encouragement. For the
past three years, I have been working with a group of women to open a pregnancy resource
center in Salmon. Working with different personalities toward the same goal has been
challenging, thrilling and frustrating. The center is now open and it is very rewarding knowing it
is there to serve people in our community and give those help during a difficult time.
All of my service experiences involve teaching and/or giving people a reason to see what
opportunities are in front of them. Since this is my goal as a teacher, Im glad to see that Ive
already been doing thateven though I wasnt always aware of it.
Reasons for Choosing Education as a Career
Although I never realized it until I started teaching, growing up with a mother who was a
teacher had a tremendous influence on me. It just seemed to come naturally to me. As I worked
with students, I would begin to understand how they process information. I remember one
student in third grade who I thought was a poor reader. As I observed, I saw that she wouldnt
read until she could say the whole sentence out loud! I taught her how to take it word by word
and her reading improved greatly.
The reality that I am the one responsible for teaching and guiding another human being in
how to think for themself is overwhelming and thrilling! The very idea that at the end of the day,
its not just dumping facts into brains, its about being part of the process of shaping the way a
child views themselves, the world around them, and how they fit into that world. It is an

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awesome privilege to help students understand who they are, how they learn, and to consider
what they can become.
A woman who works for the Idaho Department of Labor began doing a career fair a few
years ago for the students sixth through twelfth grade in Salmon and surrounding towns. The
first year, I took my two sonsdragging their feet, complaining, and saying how they werent
going to college. They came out of the building talking a mile a minute about where they were
going to go to college! Salmon has a lot of young people who dont have any hopes or dreams
for the future, and this seems like a great opportunity to open that door for them. I see the value
of giving students a sense of directionits my deepest desire as an educator.
Professional Goals
My immediate goal is to obtain my Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education at
Northwest Nazarene University. I will complete the degree and student teaching by December of
2016. After obtaining my teaching degree, I will consider my employment options and go on
from there.
I appreciate that all of my experiencesgood and bad, make me who I am. As I look
back at my education, work, and service experience, I can see how all of them have shaped and
prepared me for the next step. I have struggled for many years to figure out where I fit in and
what I am supposed to do. Because a large part of my life was spent without direction, I have a
sense of purpose to not only reach my goals, but to help others find their way as well. I see that I
have always been learning, and I have always been teaching. Although Im getting a late start,
Im moving forward to realize my dream of becoming a teacher; of truly making a difference one
life at a time, and it doesnt seem so crazy after all.