Many seniors have after-school jobs; however, GraceElle French is using hers to inspire her future.
French started babysitting when she was in tenth grade after working as a volunteer camp counselor for Camp Champion on Beaverfork Lake, where she met a little girl who stuck out above the rest. She got her job after the camper recommended her as her babysitter to her mom.
French says she has known she wants to be a teacher for a while. “I took intro to education last year and I loved it, it really gave me a good perspective on what I want to do,” she said.
She is in charge of babysitting three kids at three different grade levels, which has helped her realize which grade levels she will want to work with in the future. “I really want to teach at the elementary level,” she said. “I like the idea of being able to influence kids from a young age and my favorite teachers are from elementary school. Last year I was even able to go back and be a teacher cadet for one of my elementary teachers and it really helped me to know that teaching is what I want to do.”
Outside of babysitting, French is also a cheerleader. One might not think it ties to education, but she says it does. “It has given me a lot of opportunities to get placed to work with kids and it has also shown me the importance of teamwork which has inspired me a lot to want to make an impact on others lives. Cheer has also shown me that practice is crucial and we should never underestimate the importance of kindness.” French says both these will play a role in her classroom.
While many students aren’t prepared for their future, French is already one step ahead.