Autobiography-for-Cheryl-PilipchukDuring'junior'high'school,'it'was'noticed'by'my'teachers'that'I'exhibited'exceptional'leadership'qualities,'

interpersonal'skills,'patience'and'compassion,'leading'a'few'of'them'to'suggest'I'pursue'a'career'in'
teaching.''My'passion'for'teaching'was'cultivated'by'these'teachers'who'occasionally'allowed'me'to'help'
teach'their'lessons'to'my'classmates.''I'can'recall'making'handouts'and'teaching'pronouns'to'my'Grade'7'
French'class,'and'realizing'that'I'was'having'fun'planning'and'teaching'the'material;'at'that'time'I'decided'I'
wanted'to'become'a'teacher.''Besides'these'early'teaching'experiences,'I'also'gained'an'appreciation'of'the'
career'through'teaching'chess'to'children,'youth,'and'adults.'
My'chess'mentor'taught'chess'to'children'in'elementary'schools'for'over'40'years.''I'remember'him'telling'
me'that'if'he'were'to'start'his'life'over'again,'he'would'have'chosen'to'be'a'teacher'instead'of'his'career'as'a'
government'official'because'of'the'joy'he'received'from'making'a'positive'difference'in'the'lives'of'
children.''Through'his'guidance'and'approach'to'coaching,'he'assisted'in'building'my'confidence'and'selfI
esteem.''He'had'a'huge'impact'on'my'life,'and'therefore'an'influential'person'in'my'journey'towards'why'I'
want'to'pursue'a'career'in'teaching.''After'meeting'my'chess'mentor'as'an'elementary'student,'I'began'a'
community'chess'club'for'elementary'school'children'with'my'father'when'I'entered'junior'high'
school.''From'there,'I'continued'to'teach'how'to'play'chess'throughout'my'life,'from'running'a'chess'club'at'
my'undergraduate'university,'to'teaching'chess'to'junior'high'school'students'during'my'introductory'
teaching'practicum.''My'chess'mentor'and'teachers'certainly'helped'guide'me'into'a'career'in'teaching.''
I'have'always'been'extremely'involved'in'extracurricular'school'activities,'from'being'involved'in'the'music'
program'as'a'member'of'four'bands'and'choir,'to'being'an'active'participant'on'numerous'sports'teams'
(basketball,'volleyball,'soccer,'badminton,'and'golf),'student'council,'and'drama'plays.''Most'days'I'was'at'
school'from'7:30'am'to'8:00'pm,'and'during'this'time,'I'gained'an'appreciation'for'the'dedication'of'
teachers.''I'would'not'have'been'able'to'be'involved'in'all'these'activities'if'it'was'not'for'them.''I'admired'my'
teachers'and'thanked'them'for'allowing'me'to'have'the'opportunities'I'did'because'of'what'they'
provided.''My'admiration'for'teachers'made'me'place'the'career'of'teaching'as'one'of'the'best'to'be'had.'
Although'I'loved'the'career,'I'began'to'shy'away'from'teaching'as'I'approached'high'school'graduation.''I'
wanted'to'create'my'own'identity,'and'I'felt'that'if'I'pursued'a'degree'in'education,'I'would'only'be'following'
in'my'mother'and'sisters'footsteps.''I'fell'in'love'with'science'and'began'to'focus'my'efforts'on'working'
towards'a'science'career.''I'always'thought'I'would'eventually'become'a'teacher,'but'first'I'needed'to'explore'
my'other'options'to'gain'a'better'understanding'of'myself.'''
Years'later,'after'earning'a'Master'of'Science,'and'gaining'years'of'preclinical'and'clinical'research'
experience,'I'realized'that'I'was'missing'interpersonal'interaction'and'the'feeling'that'I'was'making'a'
difference'in'the'world.''I'realized'becoming'a'teacher'would'be'the'only'way'in'which'to'obtain'that'
interaction'and'joy'of'making'a'difference'in'others'lives'that'I'desired.''My'husband'(who'is'a'school'
teacher)'also'helped'me'realize'I'should'switch'careers'and'become'a'teacher.'''
My'husband'battled'cancer'three'times'and'subsequently,'had'a'major'stroke'that'left'him'with'global'
aphasia.'These'difficult'times'forced'me'to'reflect'on'what'I'really'want'out'of'life'and'how'I'want'to'leave'my'
mark'on'the'world.''It'is'during'these'darkest'hours'that'I'really'got'to'know'myself.''Now'as'I'help'my'
husband'and'my'twins'learn'how'to'speak,'understand,'read'and'write,'I'know'that'I'not'only'want'to'help'
them'on'their'life'journeys,'but'that'I'also'want'to'help'others'with'theirs.''