Aug. 13, 2025
“I’ve wanted to become a teacher since I was four years old. I just remember never wanting to miss a day of school. Life really started crashing down when I was a freshman in high school. I was raised by my grandparents, and I lost my grandmother during spring break of my freshman year. Then, going into my junior year, my grandfather suffered two strokes that severely limited his mobility. From that point on, I had to take care of most things around the house. I felt miserable and broken. I felt like I couldn’t trust anyone outside of my family and that no one truly understood me or what I was going through. Going into my senior year, I adopted a ‘me against the world’ mentality.
Coming to Missouri State was a fresh start. But mentally, I still felt like I didn’t deserve to be where I was at. A lot of the success I had was met with criticism, and I often felt like I had to constantly prove myself to everyone. Despite everything, I stayed true to myself and did what I needed to do to get where I wanted to be. Through student teaching, working as a para, coaching and being in the Future Educators Program, I feel prepared for the school year ahead.
I’m looking forward to having a great first school year at Westport. Only I know the potential I have and the difference I can make for these kids. I have very supportive coworkers, a great department, and a strong administration. As long as I have that support, I can take care of the rest. I believe I’m exactly where I need to be. Outside of teaching History, I want to be an example for my students – that they can be whoever they want to be, no matter what anyone tells them. I want them to see their potential and run with it.”
- Nicholas Bradford, history teacher at Westport K-8 School
