My name is Julia Minaker. I am a student at Thompson Rivers University where I am currently in my 2nd year of the Bachelor of Education program. I also received a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in English through TRU in Spring 2021. As a resident of Kamloops, I want to acknowledge that throughout my time in Kamloops I have been grateful to live and attend Thompson Rivers University on the unceded and traditional territories of the Tk’emlups te Secwepemc within Secwepemcl’ecw. I plan on pursuing my career as an educator here.
Although I was raised in Langley, BC, I have called Kamloops home for the past 6 years and plan to continue my life here. I didn’t expect Kamloops to have the impacts on my life that it did. I discovered my passion for hiking, writing, and teaching here. Over the last 6 years these passions have grown immensely and turned me into the person I am today. I continue to discover the beauty in my surrounding landscapes as well as form connections with both people and places here.
I’ve always had a passion for children and learning. My eagerness to teach started at a young age when I begged my township to let me take my babysitting course early (at 9 years old, as I was to turn 10 the following month). Since then, my love for teaching and helping children has only grown. I have always been told how great I am with kids. I think this is because I’m patient, compassionate, and have had difficult life experiences that I have grown strong from and developed empathy. Through my volunteer and practicum experience, I have become consumed by my passion for teaching. Teaching in a classroom has taught me what perseverance can look like for children. Obstacles they face can be overcome with the guidance and patience of a good teacher. Observing and developing a bond with children who come from all walks of life, knowing I can make a difference to them and their struggles motivate me. Something I’ve learned is developing the capability to grow with the world. Everything is constantly changing and children, along with the education system are shaped by these changes. I envision my future classroom will embody this. Diversity and acceptance will be mandatory, and my classroom will provide a safe space for everybody. I know I will be a successful teacher. I will learn with my students because children often teach us just as much as we teach them.
My Educational Timeline
Here is my educational timeline. It is an attempt to show people how I came to be in this place, at this time throughout my education. There is so much more to my story, but hopefully this powerpoint will demonstrate a bit more of who I was before university, and my journey to becoming a teacher. It strives to explain some details of my life in a very condensed form.