The purpose of a Relay race is to have individuals collaborate for a common goal – to finish the race. A relay race can not be won by one person, but rather each individual person must be an active part of a circuit in order to mobilize the team. A baton is passed from one member of the team to the next until the race is completed. I believe that teaching is analogous to a relay race because its purpose is not only to pass on information, but to do so for a greater reward. Teaching by definition is not an individual activity, but rather it requires the collaboration of people in order to be self fulfilling, just like a relay can not be such with only one person. In order for one person to be effective and successful, there has to be active engagement with others.
As a future teacher, I see myself as someone who is giving back to others. In order for people to learn, they must be taught and this is a cyclical process. What I ultimately want from my students is for them to take the baton of information that I give them, and use it finish strong so that they too are able to begin a relay race of their own and pass what they have learned on to the next.
