Teaching
If you would have told me that I would be a teacher while I was in high school, I probably would have laughed. And as my chuckles died down I'd wait for you to tell me what I was really going to be when I grew up.
But I've come a long way since high school - a very very long way. Even in the past two years I've transformed a great deal, and it's been a positive transformation.
Getting out of advertising was probably the best decision of my life. And now, as I face the prospect of having my own classroom I realize that I have soooo much more to learn, so much farther to go. Luckily I'm a fast learner, and having spent 16 years in a classroom, I'm not starting from absolute zero.
I actually took to learning about teaching rather quickly. And luckily - incredibly - I passed four TExES tests in one summer. So I'm able to teach elementary, middle or high school. I'm able to teach English, art, or journalism. And having so many options really helps when it comes to finding a job.
But teaching is so much more than just a job, and that's why I love it.
Before I decided to change careers, I was tutoring students in English and art. The highlight of tutoring was when the fourth grader I was tutoring passed her English STAAR test, improving her score thirty points to pass a test that she had dreaded failing.
I think that was my wake up call to become a teacher.
It's funny that I am where I am - roaming the halls of my former middle school, and two former high schools. It definitely brings back a lot of memories, some good, some bad. But I am grateful for every single teacher that I ever had, from kindergarden to graduation at TCU - because good or bad, they taught me something about teaching as well as the subject they taught.
As a teacher you have a choice - you can either be hell on wheels or you can be the teacher that the students email in thirty years because they still remember and love you.
I'm one of those weird kids who remembers every teacher they ever had…despite trying to forget some.
I had one English teacher who told me that I'd "be a terrible editor in chief." I had a music teacher in elementary who wouldn't let me go get my emergency inhaler during play rehearsal, making me burst into tears in front of the whole grade - while having a full blown asthma attack. I had a gym teacher who didn't care if kids passed out or puked while running. I had a college professor who gave my group members my grade, despite the fact that I wrote a 75 page paper without any support from my group. I had teachers so downright scary that I'd have to suppress a panic attack just walking into their class. I had a prof who told me I'd never succeed at graphic design - and to change majors. Ooo and I had another prof that screamed at a student and then chased him when he left the room. That was her last year.
On the other hand… My kindergarten, first and third grade teachers were the absolute best. I had engaging teachers, caring teachers, "cool" teachers, and teachers that believed in me. I had professors so awesome, so full of personality and passion, that I will never forget them.
The trait that all of the best teachers possessed was compassion. The best ones genuinely listen to and care about their students. The best ones have a burning passion for their subject matter and a good sense of humor. The best ones were nerdy, quirky, and vibrant. They weren't afraid to think outside of the box. They didn't freak out when a student challenged them about something related to the subject matter. The best ones were the ones who came to school every day because they genuinely wanted to.
And I want to be that teacher.
I don't have any delusions about being the world's best teacher, but I do want to be the sharpest, nicest, most genuine version of myself that I can be. Because whether people admit it or not, the person doing the teaching influences how much the students will really want to learn.
It is also my goal to avoid every single trait that my…less than stellar…teachers/profs possessed. I don't want to be self-absorbed, I don't want to brush students off, I don't want to be negative or judgmental. I don't want to be unfair or uncaring. And I certainly don't want to have a resting bitch face that screams "I really don't want to be here!" everyday.
So right now, before I have my own class, I vow to try my hardest, to be my best, to care about my students' success, and to view teaching as a lifestyle instead of just a job.
My best teachers/profs:
Mrs. Medellin
Mrs. Marflack
Mrs. Honnaker
Beth Kitchens
Mrs. Morrow
Mrs. Liner
Mrs. Glawsgow
Mrs. Newland
Mrs. Helmcamp
Mr. dela Rosa
Coach Patterson
Coach Davis
Mr. Irish
Coleman
Levering
Johnson
George
Bill Galyean
Thistlewaite
Langlinais
Vanderwerken
Brandley
Lambiase
Broc Sears
And Chocs, who I never had, but knew was awesome.
Thanks for being the best teachers I could've asked for.
But I've come a long way since high school - a very very long way. Even in the past two years I've transformed a great deal, and it's been a positive transformation.
Getting out of advertising was probably the best decision of my life. And now, as I face the prospect of having my own classroom I realize that I have soooo much more to learn, so much farther to go. Luckily I'm a fast learner, and having spent 16 years in a classroom, I'm not starting from absolute zero.
I actually took to learning about teaching rather quickly. And luckily - incredibly - I passed four TExES tests in one summer. So I'm able to teach elementary, middle or high school. I'm able to teach English, art, or journalism. And having so many options really helps when it comes to finding a job.
But teaching is so much more than just a job, and that's why I love it.
Before I decided to change careers, I was tutoring students in English and art. The highlight of tutoring was when the fourth grader I was tutoring passed her English STAAR test, improving her score thirty points to pass a test that she had dreaded failing.
I think that was my wake up call to become a teacher.
It's funny that I am where I am - roaming the halls of my former middle school, and two former high schools. It definitely brings back a lot of memories, some good, some bad. But I am grateful for every single teacher that I ever had, from kindergarden to graduation at TCU - because good or bad, they taught me something about teaching as well as the subject they taught.
As a teacher you have a choice - you can either be hell on wheels or you can be the teacher that the students email in thirty years because they still remember and love you.
I'm one of those weird kids who remembers every teacher they ever had…despite trying to forget some.
I had one English teacher who told me that I'd "be a terrible editor in chief." I had a music teacher in elementary who wouldn't let me go get my emergency inhaler during play rehearsal, making me burst into tears in front of the whole grade - while having a full blown asthma attack. I had a gym teacher who didn't care if kids passed out or puked while running. I had a college professor who gave my group members my grade, despite the fact that I wrote a 75 page paper without any support from my group. I had teachers so downright scary that I'd have to suppress a panic attack just walking into their class. I had a prof who told me I'd never succeed at graphic design - and to change majors. Ooo and I had another prof that screamed at a student and then chased him when he left the room. That was her last year.
On the other hand… My kindergarten, first and third grade teachers were the absolute best. I had engaging teachers, caring teachers, "cool" teachers, and teachers that believed in me. I had professors so awesome, so full of personality and passion, that I will never forget them.
The trait that all of the best teachers possessed was compassion. The best ones genuinely listen to and care about their students. The best ones have a burning passion for their subject matter and a good sense of humor. The best ones were nerdy, quirky, and vibrant. They weren't afraid to think outside of the box. They didn't freak out when a student challenged them about something related to the subject matter. The best ones were the ones who came to school every day because they genuinely wanted to.
And I want to be that teacher.
I don't have any delusions about being the world's best teacher, but I do want to be the sharpest, nicest, most genuine version of myself that I can be. Because whether people admit it or not, the person doing the teaching influences how much the students will really want to learn.
It is also my goal to avoid every single trait that my…less than stellar…teachers/profs possessed. I don't want to be self-absorbed, I don't want to brush students off, I don't want to be negative or judgmental. I don't want to be unfair or uncaring. And I certainly don't want to have a resting bitch face that screams "I really don't want to be here!" everyday.
So right now, before I have my own class, I vow to try my hardest, to be my best, to care about my students' success, and to view teaching as a lifestyle instead of just a job.
My best teachers/profs:
Mrs. Medellin
Mrs. Marflack
Mrs. Honnaker
Beth Kitchens
Mrs. Morrow
Mrs. Liner
Mrs. Glawsgow
Mrs. Newland
Mrs. Helmcamp
Mr. dela Rosa
Coach Patterson
Coach Davis
Mr. Irish
Coleman
Levering
Johnson
George
Bill Galyean
Thistlewaite
Langlinais
Vanderwerken
Brandley
Lambiase
Broc Sears
And Chocs, who I never had, but knew was awesome.
Thanks for being the best teachers I could've asked for.
Comments
Post a Comment