I am thankful

I am thankful for everything I have in my life.

I am thankful for who I am. I am thankful for who I will become. I am thankful for the opportunities and experiences that may have been difficult but have helped me grow. I am thankful for the times I felt stuck in a rut because now I can look back and say, “I was down there, and now I am up here.”

I am so thankful for my family. Family can be difficult but you love them unconditionally. I am thankful for the rough housing when I was young, because it made me strong. I am thankful for my parents, showing me how to live and follow my heart. I am thankful for the support I’ve received growing up and for the scoldings that helped me question my actions. And I am thankful for a mind that is able to question others. I am thankful to know when I’m in need, someone will come help. I am thankful for strong women in my family — they have helped shape me to be a strong woman and stand up for what I believe in.

I am thankful for my boyfriend. I am thankful we have been able to grow together and watch each other prosper in our lives. I am thankful that we will continue to grow together after 4 years. I am thankful he is my best friend.

I am thankful for the opportunities I’ve had to learn and educate myself. I am thankful for the people in my life who have taught me important lessons in order to achieve my goal. I am thankful for the people I have met along the way.

I am thankful for the children I teach because they are magnificent human beings that teach ME something every day.

To my Whittier family,

Fifteen weeks is over already? My time here at Whittier has been such an amazing experience. I can’t believe it went by so fast. I just wanted to extend a sincere thank you for allowing me to work with your magnificent children. Each child brightened my days and made me look forward to coming back to Whittier the next day. (If that isn’t motivation for a full-time, un-paid job, I don’t know what is!). As I worked to complete the last conquest of my master’s degree, I had so many great teaching moments with Ms. Chris’s class that fortified my reasons for choosing this field.

Throughout my time at UIC, I have had opportunities to work at a variety of schools with many teachers and teacher assistants. And I can solemnly say, Ms. Chris, Ms. Mary, and Ms. Diane are among the most spectacular individuals I have ever worked with that devote themselves to the children every day.

I feel very blessed to have been able to be a part of your child’s education in room 118.

Thank you!

Ms. Lauren

“While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about.”
~Angela Schwindt

Lauren Muellner will receive her master’s degree in early childhood education with an endorsement in special education in December. She is student teaching in a self-contained special education preschool classroom in Oak Park and is a part-time nanny. Born and raised in Chicago, Lauren likes culture and adventure. She received her bachelor’s degree in theatre from Columbia College Chicago. She plans to integrate music and theatre into her curriculum and teaching.