Be honest, how often have you felt truly appreciated? I have been teaching
for 8 years now, and I can honestly say...teaching can be a pretty thankless
job! Don't get me wrong, I love my job, but I can probably count on my hands
the number of times I have been told, "Thank you" by one of my
students. This likely has to do with the fact that I teach teenagers, so let's
face it, the world revolves around them and sometimes we are just along for the
ride.
Needless to say, no matter how it looks in the moment, we are all making a
difference in our students' lives. For most of them we are the only consistency
in their lives, and though they may not realise it today, tomorrow, or even a
year from now we are making an impact! You are there to smile and say good
morning, you are there to stay into lunch hour when they need some extra help,
you are there to help celebrate their birthday, you are there to coach them
after school, and you are there at home planning for them and hoping that they
are safe and sound until you see them again tomorrow.
Sadly, the only people who truly understand what we do are other teachers.
Until you have stood in front of a classroom, and allowed each student a place
in your heart, will you truly understand what it means to be a teacher. I
strongly believe that teaching is not a job, it isn't even a profession, it
becomes your way of life.
Be honest...
You've had to bite your tongue from disciplining random children in public?
Your spouse has told you to stop using your teacher voice at home?
You collect random junk because you can find a use for it in your classroom?
If you answered yes to any of the above, you are a true teacher
at heart!
I would like to leave you with a personal story. I had a student during my
second year of teaching. He came from a good family, but was just an angry
individual, who put minimal work into anything he did, and questioned
everything I did. Needless to say...he drove me crazy! I pushed him to be the
best he could be, and he pushed me right back! Fortunately mom was incredibly
supportive and we were in constant communication. Despite his demeanor, I
requested that he stay in my homeroom for grade 9, just so I could keep that
connection with him. He went on to a different school for high school, but mom
continues to email me to this day. When he graduated at the top of his class a
couple years later, mom demanded that I come visit. They sat me down and told
me that when they think back I was the one who turned their son around and got
him on the right path. I figured my old student would be embarrassed about his
mom inviting me over, but when I got up to leave he hugged me... and thanked
me! WOW, it was five years in the making, but I got my thank you, and let me
tell you it was worth it! Currently that student, who was barely passing his
classes in junior high, is studying engineering at university!
This goes to show you, even when you have those days that make you feel like
giving up, you are making a difference, and hopefully one day down the road a
past student will come back to thank you!
So today, I would like to give a shout out to all the teachers out there,
you are all amazing, and you are very much appreciated! Those countless hours
you spend outside the classroom are appreciated, those amazing activities you
create are appreciated, and everything you do for the betterment of your
students is appreciated! Keep up the great work!
In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week. TpT is throwing a 2 day sale. Save up
to 28% on some amazing resources to help you do, what you do best...TEACH!
