There are these picture things going around on Facebook and Instagram about all the jobs that a teacher does during the day: educator, counselor, nurse, mediator, etc. And it's true. There are so many things going on at any given point that I frequently feel like I'm being pulled in twelve different directions.
It can be overwhelming, and it's for sure exhausting. Last week was homecoming, and I felt like I was nonstop all week, and I felt like my kids needed me even more than usual because there was so much going on in their world.
Now, I know I don't have to be that person for these kids. I know I could come in, open my door just before class, teach my classes, leave at 3:45, do my grading, and call it a day. But that's really not in my nature; for the most part, once I'm in, I'm all in. And these are my kids. I care about them. I'm invested in them.
And, sometimes it pays off. Sometimes it's a former student giving you a big hug at the homecoming game and talking about life with you. Sometimes it's a parent thanking you during conferences. Sometimes, it's just knowing that you're trying.
I don't like getting political. I don't like the news, I don't watch it if I can avoid it. But lately, it seems like there's so much teacher bashing going on, on social media, the news, sometimes in person, and I just wish that opponents of teachers--and they are opponents, really--could see what we try and do during the day. I'm not saying we're perfect, we're only human after all; and I'm not pretending that every teacher feels the way I do. I'm speaking for myself, and myself only.
Teaching is hard. But, I honestly, truly, 100%, couldn't imagine doing anything else with my life.
No comments:
Post a Comment