Meet the Teacher

A lil' bit about Mrs. Beck

My husband, Shawn, and I have been married for almost 9 years - together for 13! He is the {love of my life}, my soul mate. Shawn has encouraged me and supported all my crazy ideas. He is my biggest fan, and I am his biggest cheerleader.

Our son Jackson is 6 (he would want me to tell you he's 6 and-a-half!), loves kindergarten, karate, and all things Star Wars. He was a big part of my decision to go back to school. I hope to be an inspiration to him to dream big and reach his goals no matter what gets in the way.

I am in the final (heck yeah!) semester of my undergrad degree at a small private school in Northwest Ohio. I am currently student teaching in a kindergarten classroom and {LOVE}.EVERY.MINUTE.OF.IT! I cannot wait to get my own classroom.
I was made to be a teacher!

Last summer I had a life-changing opportunity to teach overseas for three weeks in Cambodia. You can read all about it here.

Now, how about a little Q & A time...

Q: What would you be doing if you weren’t a teacher?
A: I would be a missionary in Cambodia doing all I could to end the horrible act of human trafficking of young girls. I had an unfortunate experience of witnessing this in action while I was there - I will never forget that moment as long as I live. I pray that one day I will be able to save at least one child from such a horrible life.

Q: What are your hobbies?
A: When I'm not blog-stalking my favorite teaching blogs, I {love} to read a good book while soaking in a bubble bath. When it's warm and sunny outside you can find me up to my elbows in soil tending to my flower gardens. I {love} to plan vacations! My husband would call it a trip planning addiction. ;)

Q: When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A: This is so silly - and I have no idea why I said this - but when I was in kindergarten I drew a picture of me making french fries at McDonalds! It was always such a treat for me to go get a Happy Meal that I wanted to pass them out to other little kiddies too.

Q: What are your guilty pleasures?
A: On t.v. it's the Real Housewives - all of them except Atlanta, I've just never really gotten into that one. When it comes to food I {love} chocolate candy bars! Heath, Twix, and anything that is caramel covered in chocolate makes me all happy inside. I seriously need to kick my Mt. Dew habit. I've recently discovered Izze pomegranate sparkling juice and I.am.addicted! There is a vending machine full of it right outside my classroom door...

Q: What is your biggest fear?!
A: Losing the ones I {love}. I cannot imagine life without my husband and son. They are my everything.

Q: When you’re on vacation, where do you like to go?
A: I am a cruise-aholic. My husband and I have been on three cruises in the last two years. I'll go ANYwhere a cruise ship will dock!


Cruise #1 - Disney, baby! ~~ Cruise #2 - Disney Again! ~~ Cruise #3 - Just mommy & daddy


Q: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
A: Don't be a "Negative Nancy." My husband repeatedly tells me to not focus on the negative, to turn my face toward the warmth of the sun and all that is good in this life. Wise guy, huh?

Q: What do you value most in others?
A: Honesty at all costs, and a good sense of humor, which is why I {love} my husband so much. (That and the fact that he is super-hot!)

Q: If you could choose one of your personality traits to pass down to your kids, what would it be?
A: My sense of humor. Life is so much better filled with laughter.

Q: If you could have lunch with anyone in the world….living or dead…who would it be?
A: Myself 50 years from now. I could spend time reliving all the good and wonderful times of my life.

Now tell us one random thing about yourself:

I'm being published! An article I wrote chronicling my experiences teaching overseas in Cambodia is being printed in an academic journal this month. I am very proud of my work and cannot wait to see it in a book!

This post was inspired by the AWESOME Mrs. Carroll At First Grade Parade.

Check her out!