My name is Madeleine Potter and I was born in Bristol, England. My mum is originally from Kamloops and moved to England when she was 18. We moved to Kamloops in 2011 when I was in grade 3. My dad is from the U.K and still lives there now. I am lucky to have dual citizenship and very privileged to travel back and forth to see both sides of my family, typically once a year. It brings me comfort to know that I always have a home on both sides of the world. 

I have two younger siblings, Alfie is 17 and graduating high school this year, Lizzy is 12 and she is starting grade 8 this year. Being an older sister has definitely influenced who I am today and why I would like to be a teacher. I learned to be the responsible sibling very quickly as my youngest sibling and I share a 10 year age difference. Especially being an older sister, I have found that I care so deeply about what others might think of me and how I make people feel in daily interactions. I believe that I am a huge empath. Teaching has always been a career I wanted to pursue as well as nursing although I quickly learned that the sciences were not for me. 

When I graduated high school, I enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts program at TRU. I started to take all of the prerequisite classes needed to apply to the Bachelor of Education program. I loved sociology and found myself trying to take as many of those classes that I could. I believe that my sociological background will truly help me be a better teacher. I’ve studied how culture, race, family, and class can influence a student’s experience, behavior, and learning. Sociology also caused me to critically think and empathize for those around me as we never know what someone may be facing in their lives. As a future teacher, I hope that my classroom will be a safe space where students feel valued and supported as they grow. 

I love to stay busy but I am also a huge homebody. I feel the happiest at home when the house has been cleaned and my to-do list is complete for the day. Throughout this program, I balance 2 jobs and living an active lifestyle. I try my hardest to get to the gym before class because then I can give 100% of my focus to the rest of my day. It is really important to me to move my body in the morning and I believe it sets my day up for success. I recently signed up for a women’s soccer league during the summer and I am excited for this new experience.

I am a teacher candidate who loves to help children learn, grow, and feel confident in themselves. As an older sister, I have always taken on a personal and supportive role, I strive to implement this into my teaching. Making connections with students is extremely important and all children should feel a champion in their lives. I am excited to continue this program and put my all into practicum.