How BYU Faculty Influenced My Life

Mikaela Campbell

McKay Student Ambassador

Early Childhood Education

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Teaching is unique. Seriously, when you take the time to stop and think about it the word teacher can cover such a large realm of concepts. Every subject in life is covered and teachers are needed for any age. Where would we be without teachers?

Studying to be a teacher while at college is such an interesting dynamic because no matter what you're teaching you'll receive extra insight into what it means to teach. I've experienced this personally. For someone majoring in Early Childhood Education can I learn teaching techniques from my college professors? Absolutely, and I have. Not only am I learning new content from my classes but I'm also being constantly influenced on how I want to teach based on observing my professors. This doesn't only apply to the teachers in my major, but in all my classes. I'm not only learning the material, but effective techniques of what concepts resonate with me and why, and what did the teacher to get me to this point? I don't go into class intentionally thinking I want to model my teachers as I become a teacher, but on BYU campus I can't help but want to follow their example.

Beyond just the classroom experience the environment in the classroom makes a huge difference. I love that at BYU we not only openly discuss but are also encouraged to talk about Jesus Christ. It's pretty incredible that a prayer is given often in class, sometimes even a spiritual thought. My favorite thing is the way that my professors intertwine religion and academics. I love the balance that this creates and I feel like I am consistently being spiritually and intellectually strengthened by my professors. The way that my class is often aligned with Jesus Christ to what is learned at school makes me want to align good values in my classroom. BYU is unique in how we can talk about religion but I have learned through good experiences with my professors that I can take what I received from here and create light, good morals, and positivity in a public school setting.

We can exemplify Christ in the way we choose to act and in how we create a classroom of belonging. I have had great experiences with my professors, as well as some challenging ones. I feel that the times when I felt the most successful and motivated were when I sensed that my professors genuinely wanted me to succeed. It’s always nice to have a teacher who makes a positive impact. This inspires me to become the kind of teacher whose students feel comfortable in the classroom and believe they can be successful, knowing that I see them, know who they are, and recognize that they matter. It’s important to have a good balance between strong classroom management and a warm, welcoming environment. Observing professors who have achieved that balance has helped me identify what I want to implement in my own classroom.

Something that has been influential for me is how my professors have impacted me at different times in my life. My freshman year I was excited to be at school and to learn but by the end of it I was also preparing for a mission and having a career seemed far away. Now that I am back I am influenced differently in knowing I am here to stay to then go on to have a full job and start a career as a teacher. At both of these times in my life my schooling and professors greatly influenced me in the way I needed, teaching goes beyond just academics, I've felt it and I look forward to sharing it.

No matter the grade teachers are going to impact students at times in their lives that are important and do influence them. I’ve gained many valuable skills from my professors at BYU, and I know their influence will continue to guide me over the time I still have here. How about you?

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