teacher?
I just completed my student teaching. It was incredible. I basically did all the work of a teacher, but without the pay. I planned, taught, planned, studied, graded, planned, created, graded, planned, etc. Lots of planning, grading, and teaching.
Towards the beginning my student teaching I almost walked out of the school never to return. I was not sure what I was doing; I was prepared for the day, but I kept asking myself, “Is this really what I want to do with my life?” I came to the realization that it is what I want to do, so I walked into the classroom and began first period. Yes, the day had not even begun and I was ready to call it quits. I found out that this is somewhat normal; the quitting part I mean.
This is a daily dilemma for some teachers. Nasty parents that call and come into the classroom to yell at and threaten the teacher in front of students, profane emails, and the awesome waiting in the parking lot to “discuss” an issue are all parts of the job. I saw a side of school that I had yet to see…it was hell. I came to realize why teachers have the summer “off”…if they did not have a big break like that, they would all literally become insane.
I had my good days and my bad days. I had great days and horrible days. I had days when the students learned immensely and days when I wasted the students’ time. Ups and downs are part of the job.
I learned something about myself through the whole process—–I was made to be a teacher. I do not think that another job will suffice. I became comfortable in my skin and came alive while a taught. I wanted to be a musician for a while, and that is still true – I love music, but teaching allows me to be fully alive at all moments – good and bad.
