Who am I?
Hello! I am Sierrah Bennett, a 21-year-old university student working to pursue my Bachelor of Education degree. Currently, in my third year in the Community-Based Werklund School of Education 4-year program, I have been in the classroom, learning how to reach my fullest potential as a future educator.
Born and raised in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan, I graduated from Holy Rosary High School, began my post-secondary career in Lakeland College's University Transfer program, and have since transferred to the Werklund School of Education's 4-year Community-Based Bachelor of Education program at the University of Calgary. Throughout my entire educational career, I have been very academically driven. After graduating from high school with great distinction and making the Dean's List in both semesters of my first year of post-secondary, I have always understood and comprehended course content in school with ease. This gift of academic intelligence and peer tutoring in high school first got me interested in the profession of being a teacher. Ever since I tutored my first student, I found immense joy and a sense of purpose when I was able to help others in their learning journey. Although I believe the gift of sharing knowledge is significant, I found more purpose in impacting the lives of those I helped. I've always had a love for learning and have since decided to put that love into a profession where I can try to positively impact the lives of my students every day. Although some days will be more difficult than others, I will do always try to do my best.
I currently spend most of my days as a freelance videographer and photographer for weddings, corporate events, and portraiture, focusing on school and my education, working in Marketing and Technology at Startup Lloydminster, or spending time with my family and friends.
Fun Facts About Me
01.
Fact 1
I am a nationally award-winning videography, having won Gold in the 2021 National Skills Canada Competition in the Video Production Category. My partner (and best friend) competed in this completion for 3 years and accumulated 5 gold medals within that time.
02.
Fact 2
My favourite genre of music is Classic Rock and some of my favourite bands consist of The Eagles, Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac, Queen, April Wine, and Greta Van Fleet. It just seems so full of heart and soul.
03.
Fact 3
I love to travel! I have been to many countries in the western hemisphere but have never been overseas. It is my goal in the next 5 years to visit Italy for the first time. I love history, which is the reason why I am really looking forward to travelling to Europe sometime soon. My love for history is also why I chose to major in Social Studies while pursuing my degree.
04.
Fact 4
I was very involved in a non-profit organization called the Lloydminster Youth Council, which aimed to have the youths' voices in our community heard, give back to the community, and host fun events for youth to attend. I was a member for two years and Chair for the 2020/2021 season.
Mentorship for every student
My Teaching Philosophy
I have been fortunate enough to be born into a fantastic family with values of love, respect, hard work, compassion, and encouragement at its core. I believe that learning environments and school cultures should have the same set of values present in their classroom community. Growing up, I was always very emotionally supported in any goal I set for myself and was encouraged to do my best to meet it. This constant encouragement and emotional support motivated me to achieve my goals and develop new ones for myself. I had mentors and role models that I looked up to, making me want to be the best I could be. This is the type of figure I will strive to be for my students.
Throughout my high school career, I had one teacher who was a massive role model and inspiration for me. I guarantee I would not be where I am in life today without her. She constantly encouraged me in everything I aimed to do, shared any knowledge she could with me to help me achieve my goals, and, most importantly, she believed in me.
Not all students have the luxury of having supportive families or good role models in their lives, which makes me believe that teachers must present themselves as a mentor for their students. The learning process isn't simply knowing the course content and passing onto the next grade; it is the road to discovering what makes up the world around us and how it reflects on our lives. For students to truthfully learn, they must have a reason to feel motivated and dare to work hard for it. These are characteristics that many children are not born with, but are rather values that must be instilled to help students become successful in life.
Although teachers need to act as authoritarian figures within their schools and classrooms, it is also crucial for teachers to encourage and respect their students and expect that same respect in return. Boundaries must be made and upheld to ensure a student-teacher relationship with your students instead of a buddy-buddy relationship. Yet, it is still essential to be a figure who makes your students aware that they always have someone in their corner. If you support, encourage, and respect your students, most will strive to do well in your class.
I know that I probably will not be able to positively impact every one of my students' lives due to many external factors. Still, even if I only make a positive difference in one kid's life throughout my teaching career, it will have been worth it.
