A Day In The Life: You've Gotta Laugh

Yes, I know there were a couple of blog posts that used to be here, but I deleted them... Some on purpose, some by accident (whoops... Touch screens). I'm starting fresh here.

In the third marking period, I am feeling much more confident and that I understand what I need to do to succeed at my job. There are some weeks that are tougher than others, and sometimes the kids do make me crazy, but they're just kids and I love all of my students, all the time. That's true no matter their background, who they are, or what they've done. I have always wanted them to know that I love them and care about the individuals they are going to be first and foremost - I came to their classroom hoping to be a role model, as imperfect as I am. The world is bankrupt of goodness, and in kids, there is so much of hope. The day to day can get in the way and cloud this overall vision, which is the real reason anyone becomes a teacher at the end of the day, I suppose. I came as a teacher, but also as an adult they can love and trust - just someone they can have in their lives. I'm making memories I know I will look back and laugh at (and I hope they do, too). My first year of teaching has been very difficult, especially not having a mentor, but it has not been impossible.

I've learned a lot and adapted over the course of this year. There were many obstacles I had to overcome, obstacles I didn't know were ahead because of inexperience. This year has been so worth it. I have had parents thank me personally for everything that I do for their kids. I've had kids thank me for what I've done, I got Christmas presents from some of them, people I did not even know in September. It's been a very touching and very blessed adventure. Although I've had speed bumps in PR and figuring out what assessments work, the personality (and the names!) of the kids, and classroom management, I am not doing so badly. I have learned little practical things that will help me going forward put aside the management part and just have a classroom.

And yes, while I have felt the drama of the everyday moment, the bigger picture is much more blessed. At the end of the day, I am going to laugh because I know what I have done is influence the future. I have been trying my best to guide students not just on the way to academic success, but even more crucially, on the path of *human* success. These kids are not going to remember Latin at the end of the day, unless by some miracle someone wants to be a classicist; they might remember the class and they might remember some random tidbit here and there; however, they will remember how they felt in that class, even if they take nothing else away. I am a humanities teacher, and the humanities will ever remain useful because they teach us what it means to be HUMAN - not a machine. I have respect for every discipline, but over them all, I will always champion the humanities. As Aristotle would agree, the most impractical things are the most necessary.

Life is beautiful. My profession is beautiful. My students are beautiful and worthy. I just want them to know that.