My name is Emily Adamsheck, and I am a 5th-grade teacher in Foley, Minnesota. I have been teaching for seven years. I think I always knew I was meant to be a teacher. I just took the scenic route through college before I realized my path. Through grade school, I had a few teachers that I remember were fantastic and motivated me to want to be an inspiration to others like they were to me when I was in their classes. On the other hand, some experiences in my life also motivated me to do better than what I had. Not a single teacher is perfect, but there are moments when teachers are changing lives every day, and I hope to do that for at least one student in my teaching lifetime. 

Though I had these thoughts growing up, I panicked while enrolling at the University of North Dakota and chose to major in Physical Therapy. That very quickly fizzled out, and I switched my major to Criminal Justice. I knew during a Policing class that this was not meant for me. I felt like they were speaking a different language with all the facts and laws that I couldn’t fully comprehend, and I felt completely out of my comfort zone. I finally met with my counselor, and I was able to change courses to Elementary Education. Everything finally felt right. It only took about a year and a couple of changes to figure it out.

My student teaching experience is where I felt I learned the most. Gaining real-time classroom experience while having a phenomenal cooperating teacher to help guide me when I needed it and let me take the wheel when appropriate, I felt I could do this profession. My next hurdle was finding a teaching position. After numerous interviews over that summer after college, I finally received a third-grade teaching position offer the same week as the open house! Looking back at that crazy first year, I am very thankful I was on a team that welcomed me with open arms and took me under their wing. I learned a lot during that year, and I continue to learn more and more about teaching and, more importantly, myself as each year goes on.

I taught for two years in 3rd grade, then moved to a Title 1/Technology split position for part of a year, and then was asked to move to a 4th-grade classroom for the remainder of that year. The following year, I made it to the 5th-grade position I am currently still in. Like college, it took a little longer and a couple of changes to figure out where I belong. I have an amazing team that collaborates, treats each other with respect, encourages one another, and makes coming to work worth it and enjoyable. I also get to work in the same community I live in and watch students grow inside the classroom and outside in the real world. 

I am grateful to have had the opportunities and have met the people I have along the way. I wouldn’t be the same teacher I am today if it wasn’t for the adversity I experienced throughout the years. Though these past couple of years have been tough, I love working with students, watching them grow, and making connections that last longer than just the school year.