Just about everyone can say they had at least one teacher that influenced the choices they made in life and helped shape them into the person they are today. Afterall, isn’t that one of the many roles of a teacher, which also include delivering classroom instruction that helps students learn, preparing effective lessons, grading student work and offer feedback, managing classroom materials, navigating the curriculum, and collaborating with other staff. Teachers must also function as surrogate parents, mentors, and counselors, and even almost-politicians. There is almost no limit to the roles a teacher may play. 

Whether or not you believe the job of a teacher is easy, hard or somewhere in between, it happens to be one of the most amazing careers in the world. I always thought of it not just as a career but more as a way of life.  As Mark Twain said, “Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” This was the motto I swore by, and which ultimately guided me through my path in life. I have made some questionable decisions in my life (I think we all have), but thirty-two years later I can honestly say that choosing to teach was the single greatest decision I ever made.

Let’s think about… on the average, secondary teachers spend roughly 45 minutes a day with each student. At the end of a school year, educators will have dedicated 135 hours (or 8,100 minutes) to every single child. We as educators are blessed with the unique opportunity to mold and shape innocent young minds. We get to build relationships with kids and watch them grow up into beautiful young people. We get to watch them laugh and smile and interact with each other. I think for some of us, the best part of teaching is watching for that “aha moment”, when a kid finally gets something that he/she may have been struggling with or comes up with an ingenious idea of their own.

So, what would I say to all the new teachers out there?

Watch and See How Kids think.                                                                                          

Children have such creative ideas and their own unique perspectives. Listening to them explain why they think the way they do is quite fascinating. Pay attention to what your students are saying, and you’ll be surprised at how much they know.

Learn Something New Everyday                                                                                                                                   

As teachers, we never stop learning. We get to explore new ideas every day. It is important that we implement lessons that consist of different cultures and backgrounds. If we embrace the multi-cultural population, we allow for inclusivity and a sense of belonging. When we teach young people about different cultures, they tend to feel more comfortable with these differences later in life. Teaching various cultures encourages kids to interact with a wider range of social groups. Not only that, but we get the opportunity to broaden our own knowledge of the world outside our own cultures as well.

Be Your Own Person

As teachers, we get to bring to the class our own unique personalities, passions, and sense of humor. We can use our creativity and originality to create exciting lessons and find new and interesting ways to deliver content. When we bring enthusiasm to the classroom, it is often reflected in our kids. Use your individual talents and gifts to help inspire and motivate the children. Here is another little “fun-fact'' about teaching; it is a job that requires socializing. We get to interact with our friends and colleagues throughout the day. We can lean on each other during the tough times and laugh with each other during the fun times.

Influence The Next Generation

Most students look up to and admire their teachers, especially when there is a strong relationship between the two. We are not just responsible for delivering information. We become their friends, mentors, and confidants. Use this to your advantage. Inspire students to be the best they can be and to apply their talents to do what they want to do with their lives. Teach by example. In other words, show young people how to treat one another, how to respect diversity in others and just how to be a good person. As basic as this may seem, it is essential that we support the parents in accomplishing this great feat. If we want the next generation to be better than us, then it is up to us to lead the way. (This is one of my favorite aspects of teaching).

Appreciate the Flexible Schedule and Time Off

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the obvious. Yes, we follow the school year schedule. We have vacations and holidays off. And best of all, we have summers off too. This allows us the regrouping and recovery time needed to return to the next school year refreshed and ready for action. It also affords us the opportunity to be the hands-on parent that most of us aspire to be. Use this time to decompress but enjoy every second of your personal and family time.

HAVE FUN and KEEP A SENSE of HUMOR

Always keep in mind that you have the greatest job in the world. Have fun! When you make a mistake, laugh it off and move on.  You are a role model, so demonstrate to them how to handle obstacles and what to do in the face of adversity. They aren’t born with this knowledge so show them how it’s done.  If you surround yourself with upbeat, optimistic people and positive energy, you are guaranteed to become the effective and dynamic teacher you strive to be.

For me, the greatest part of my thirty plus years of teaching has been knowing that I influenced, educated, and touched the hearts of hundreds of children over the years. I pride myself on the knowledge that I did my best every single day to positively impact young people in the world. I hope I helped build their self-esteem and I hope I made it clear that every individual has a valuable place on this earth and that each one of them will always hold a special place in my heart.

References

Melinda. “14 Fantastic Things to Love about Teaching.” Top Notch Teaching, 11 Feb. 2018, https://topnotchteaching.com/reflective-teaching/love-about-teaching/.

“Should I Be a teacher? Here Are 24 Awe-Inspiring Reasons to Consider It.” Teachers of Tomorrow, 14 Aug. 2022, https://www.teachersoftomorrow.org/blog/insights/should-i-be-a-teacher/.