• #BearsOfBaylor — “I knew this is what I was truly called to do…”

    “When I came here for orientation, I was a clinical psychology major. My intent was to come in and help people. Very cliché. I’m very independent, I told my mom to stay home during orientation. I told her, ‘You won’t be in college with me. I’m going to do this on my own.’ It backfired, thank God. They gave us a brochure where the different seminars would be; I thought, ‘Okay, clinical psychology. It’s a science, so obviously the session will be in the Baylor Sciences Building.’ I walked in thinking it would be there, and they were like, ‘Hey, it’s not here. By the time you get to the actual session, it will be too late. Just find a second place that you might consider.’

    “So, I thought, well, maybe I’ll go into education. I liked my principal, he was cool… I don’t remember much of what they said, but I knew that’s where I needed to be. Sitting in there, I knew this is what I was truly called to do — to be an educator. This is where I could help out.

    “As a senior, I’ve already spent six of my eight semesters working with students, so tons of experience. By the time that I graduate I’ll pretty much be a first- or second-year teacher. I’m actually teaching right now and coaching at Midway High. I’m teaching Pre-AP English I and AP English IV and coaching high jump.

    “I attend all of my students’ football games and cheerleading competitions, track meets, plays, if they invite me to them, because I love to build those relationships with my students. If I show that I’m here to support them, it finds its way into the classroom as well. They begin to do a little bit more in the classroom because they know, ‘Mr. Taylor’s here to root me on. I know he’s going to fight for me. He’s not just my teacher, he’s my fan, he’s a supporter.'”

    #BearsOfBaylor

    [Every Baylor Bear has a story; #BearsOfBaylor brings those stories to you, one by one. These stories, these people… This is our Baylor.]