University of the PACIFIC

I can honestly say without a doubt this journey has surpassed the dreams and visions I would have before going to bed during my credential program at Pacific.  The papers, the readings, the note taking, working to get to this point, the day you have your own classroom.  I am living a dream.  My dream is even better than I could have imagined. I am humbled daily; mesmerized and in awe of the young people I work with. These students are impressive and the relationships you build with these young people are everlasting. You root for these kids, you love them. You try to instill tools that will help them achieve their goals and dreams. I wish I could truly describe it.  Being a teacher is fulfilling, it is inspiring and I am living my dream.

Yet it is hard work. It is hard work because I have been taught to be a reflective inquirer. To be a teacher who is also a lifetime learner. I learn daily and I thank my education at Pacific for this. In any field we can all improve, it is when we reflect and look for improvement that we can become better at our craft. To be able to do this you need the stamina and tools to look within yourself and constantly improve.  All the preparation at Pacific helped me get to this point and has a lot to do with my success as a young teacher. The professors who mentored me have been replaced by my principal, my assistant principal, my literary coach, my BTSA support provider, and the head of the department. The professors at Pacific treated us like colleagues, mentored us, collaborated and helped build the foundation that brings forth success in the classroom. This support, the credentials program, the student teaching, brings an ease to the classroom. As a young teacher, what I lack in experience I make up for in terms of my education at Pacific and the support I have at my school and district. Sure it is nerve racking, these first years sometimes feel like survival but we are prepared going in, because of the time we spent at Pacific. Pacific built my foundation, it has helped me reach my goal of becoming an IB teacher. 
 
To constantly be able to motivate and educate the next generation is beyond rewarding. I am grateful for my time at Pacific.  I take great pride in being a Pacific graduate and this sense of pride is bestowed in the classroom and in my students. I lean heavily on my time at Pacific. There is a sense of calmness even when grading covers every inch of my desk, practice starts in fifteen minutes, and there are still phone calls that need to be made to parents about how proud I am of their child or the improvements they are making in class.  My success in the classroom is due to my education, my support from my school and district and most importantly the students and athletes I learn from every day. I encourage every future teacher who is or will be thinking about studying at Pacific, to trust and fully embrace the education they receive.  For when the time comes and you have your own classroom, it is much better than you could have ever dreamed.

Arash Scott Behnam
Franklin High School