i have only been teaching for three years and change, yet my career has already given me so many rewards. there has been plenty of headaches and soulaches along the way, but i feel so blessed to have had some of the reactions i have so early in my career. just recently a former student and former neighbor of my brother and sister in law lit a candle for me at her sweet-16 party. she said very little for most of her candles, but when she got to me she said i was an inspiration to her, how i taught more to her than just english, i taught her about life. i was in awe and almost cried. it is hard for me to openly embrace such positive. maybe i am too modest, a masochist, or way too hard on myself, but hearing such positive is both enlightening and embarassing. i just try to be, to live, to do what i think is right. i am passionate about what i do because i would hate to be doing something that i wasn't passionate about. i could go on and on about amazing things students have said or done for me. really that should be the focus of my blog since so many blogs are filled with teacher bashing and compaints. i too could add a lot there, but the real lure of the job is in the little things. in the time with your students. in the connections. i love being with 'y kids'. it is their job to challenge me and mine to challenge them. i feel they need a secure presence, someone that genuinly cares and wants to see them succeed. recently i had three students e-mail me randomly. one was friendly and funny, one was for advice about writing, and one was from a girl that wants to spread awareness of world issues and human injustice. i love that these kids felt comfortable enough to seek out my advice, help, and correspondance. i am lucky. i am so happy to be me and to be able to be a positive impact...though sometimes i don't get it...i am quite avant garde...but again, i am there to challenge....
i realized that i am not at all funny when i blog lately....i will have to do something about that...until i meet with dead space again...
I also share your profession. I think the heartaches might come first. The candle experience IS what its about. Hearing that is the ultimate "thank you". you aren't a teacher you have touched and changed a life forever, it is so weird for me to think that way but I know it is true, probably even on a daily basis!?
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