Breathlessly Wild

I've spent the holiday weekend reflecting on my second week of teaching and a warm, satisfying feeling has come over me.  I've thought a lot about the teacher that I am today and the teacher that I want to be in the future, but what has really stayed present in my mind is my students.  Let's forget about the curriculum, the lessons, the tests, the assignments, and etc...because what it all boils down to is the students.  In response to my post about the first week of school a former high school teacher-extraordinaire of mine took the time to write me a message.  The following is an excerpt I'd like to share with you:


Sometimes it gets so frustrating that you think you should just quit and be a bartender. But, there'll be days that fill your heart with joy at what happens. So, fight through these tough times and know that things will get better, worse, more fun, less exiting, boring, breathlessly wild, full of tears, and full of smiles.


If those words aren't inspiration I don't know what are.  They bring a tear to my eye and I feel excitement just thinking about it, especially because this teacher really is the best teacher in the world.  Just this year he began his 40th year of teaching and still has spring in his academic step.  Looking back into my memory I wonder what I was like when I was the same age as my students are now.  Admittedly, I was not always the best student, but managed above average grades and excelling in other areas.  Don't get me wrong, I wasn't a bad student and worked for my teachers while causing little headaches, but I surely wasn't the student I am now.  Why is that?  Some may say it's age and maturity, situation, environment, or that I was just bored and consumed by the life of a teenager.  I really don't know, but I do know that this teacher liked me anyway.


He liked me anyway...and that is something that I've been trying to remember while I interact with students.  When I'm frustrated and feel myself getting upset I try to pull out the "like them anyway" card I've been carrying in my back pocket because sadly, not all teachers have that card.  When I hear the other educators in my school discussing a student and it sounds like they are already going to write them off in the second week I remain quiet and make a mental note to say hello to the student the next day and give them encouragement and praise for no other reason than because they deserve it.


Teaching is so "breathlessly wild" because in no other profession can you experience so many emotions in one day while interacting with great minds-the minds of our children.  Student teachers should expect some disappointments in the first few weeks, but going into it all I didn't believe I'd feel anything other than sincere happiness and gratitude.  In his message, my former teacher also mentioned that if you stay with it then one day a student will walk into your classroom and will make it all worth while.  Maybe I've already met that student, or maybe it will take another 20 years to meet him or her, but I'm pretty sure that the student that walks in my classroom to make it all worth my while has been entering it every day for the last 2 weeks and I just have to remember to take notice.  No one ever said it would be easy, but they did say it would be worth it and that I believe.