When I was young and told my dad that I wanted to teach, he told me he wasn’t sure it was a good idea. He respected teachers and the profession; he just told me that he was worried that I would never make enough money. He was afraid I would live a life of want and never be comfortable. Before starting my fourth year of teaching this year, my father said, “I am glad you became a teacher. Not many people have a job that they love. I can see that you do.” With school starting this past week, I thought it was time to tell all of you why I teach.
I teach for the 110+ students who walk into my classroom each day. I teach because I see something in them that I am not sure that they do. I see a world of potential. They are smart, creative, kind, giving, fun, curious, unsure, strong, and unique. They inspire me every single day. I want to be a better person because of all of them. I may teach them about how to construct a paragraph and how to spot the symbolism in a story, but they teach me about the kind of life that I want to live. I want to be strong like the students I have who have faced challenges and loss that I couldn’t begin to fathom. I want to be courageous like the students I have who have dealt with life threatening illnesses and refuse to let that define them. I want to be selfless like my students who are constantly giving their time and energy to try and make this world a better place, not for notoriety but because it’s the right thing to do.
I know my students may not always remember where exactly that darn comma goes. I know they might forget about Marc Antony’s speech from Julius Caesar. There are lessons that I am trying to teach that I feel are imperative for them to remember. I want them to actively seek out ways to be kind. I want them to see others solely for what is on the inside. I want them to search for all the amazing aspects of their life and focus on those because that is the only way to live. Lastly, I want them to believe in themselves as much as I do and to go after everything they want. This “stuff” is more important to me. I hit all the standards required and give all the tests that are mandated by the state, but I want more for my students as well. I feel by first creating an environment that fosters kindness and compassion, I then can have a classroom that allows for a deeper learning. When my students feel safe, loved, and believed in, it is then that they will push themselves further academically.
There you have it. I don’t teach for a pay check, summers off, or anything else. I teach because I am exponentially blessed to be around the most incredible young adults each and every day. These kids are the real heroes.
Go do great things,
EP