Family Tradition

For some people, the field they go into is something completely different than those of their parents. For others its similar but not quite the same. This is certainly not true of the path I've chosen to walk. My family have been educator's for as far back as I can trace. My surname, Ralstin, is derrived from the Scottish name of Ralston, and the Ralston clan in Scotland and England have been largley associated with education in the UK. So in that regard it is sort of my destiny to become a teacher.
Even if I were to overlook my ancient family origins, teaching is sort of a family tradition. My grandmother, Margeret Ralstin, was a Music teacher for many many years here in Scioto County Ohio. My father, Robert "Bob" Ralstin, has been a teacher, principle, and administrator for numerous school districts in the area. My mother, Joanne, was a Gym teacher and Multiple Handicap teacher for several years as well. Several of my aunts are educators as well, my aunt San is a Special Ed teacher in Gallia County and my aunt Pricscillia teaches Early Childhood at McDermott Northwest School District. On top of this I have numerous cousins who are in the education field as well. This kind of made it an inevitibility that I would be a teacher.
I never really thought I wanted to teach to be perfectly honest. All through high school I wanted to be a scientist, to study things and learn. Shortly before I graduated I had my mind set that I was to be a doctor. And even after I started college and learned I didn't like the medical field I was set on being some sort of biologist. It wasn't until I met my wife and had my son that I was really forced to sit down and evaluate what it really was I wanted to do with my life. It was at this point that I decided for sure I was to be an educator. It was at this point that I would follow the family tradition. Which after I really thought about it made perfect sense. All through my primary and secondary education there were very few places that I truly felt comfortable in, and the classroom was one of them. I guess I always knew I should teach, I just wanted to be different. But like the old saying goes, the apple really doesn't fall far from the tree. And because of this, if my son turns out anything like me, he'll probably follow the tradition of education as well.