Today on #thankfulthursday , I am so grateful to be a teacher. Elementary school teachers will say to me, “How on earth can you teach high school?” and I’ll say to them, “How on earth can you teach elementary school?!” We truly gravitate towards the age group that best suits our personalities and strengths. Over the past 11 years, my life has been richly blessed by my students and their families.As a single woman with no children, teaching helps to fill an emptiness in my heart. I love my students’ unique personalities and backgrounds. I love teaching at a school with such diversity. When people ask me my favorite thing about teaching, my response is usually how funny teenagers are. Don’t get me wrong- I continue to experience days where I want to quit. One of my teacher friends and I joke (?) about our dream alternate careers whenever we are having a tough day at work. I’ve gotten nasty parent emails that have taken my breath away. I’ve had students quit my program because they don’t like my class. I’ve had to learn to be okay with the fact that not everyone likes me or agrees with my music selection or whatever it may be. But I’ve watched students grow in confidence and skill. I’ve seen them have “aha” moments and witnessed them coming out of their shells. I’ve laughed every day at their random, weird antics. I’ve learned to compromise and am often surprised that my students know better than me. I’ve leaned on fabulous co-workers and admin who have my back whenever things get hard. My job brings me an abundance of joy and human connection that I need in my life. I am grateful for the pull I’ve felt since childhood to be an educator- God knew that’s where I needed to be. 
Thursday, May 23, 2019
Thankful Thursday: I am a Teacher
Today on #thankfulthursday , I am so grateful to be a teacher. Elementary school teachers will say to me, “How on earth can you teach high school?” and I’ll say to them, “How on earth can you teach elementary school?!” We truly gravitate towards the age group that best suits our personalities and strengths. Over the past 11 years, my life has been richly blessed by my students and their families.As a single woman with no children, teaching helps to fill an emptiness in my heart. I love my students’ unique personalities and backgrounds. I love teaching at a school with such diversity. When people ask me my favorite thing about teaching, my response is usually how funny teenagers are. Don’t get me wrong- I continue to experience days where I want to quit. One of my teacher friends and I joke (?) about our dream alternate careers whenever we are having a tough day at work. I’ve gotten nasty parent emails that have taken my breath away. I’ve had students quit my program because they don’t like my class. I’ve had to learn to be okay with the fact that not everyone likes me or agrees with my music selection or whatever it may be. But I’ve watched students grow in confidence and skill. I’ve seen them have “aha” moments and witnessed them coming out of their shells. I’ve laughed every day at their random, weird antics. I’ve learned to compromise and am often surprised that my students know better than me. I’ve leaned on fabulous co-workers and admin who have my back whenever things get hard. My job brings me an abundance of joy and human connection that I need in my life. I am grateful for the pull I’ve felt since childhood to be an educator- God knew that’s where I needed to be. 
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment