When I was in graduate school, my professors often said reflection was key to becoming a successful educator. During my first year, reflection wasn’t something I was focused on; it was surviving. As I reach my fourth year as a high school English teacher, I have the stamina and peace of mind to look at the profession in a different light. If I made a list of my thoughts during my first year, the focus would have been on why I wanted to quit the profession. With quitting far from my mind, here are some of my thoughts:
- The title of ‘teacher’ encompasses multiple titles. When I became a teacher, I didn’t realize I would also become a guidance counselor, college advisor, photographer, videographer, a stand-in parent, a child’s only friend, and more.
- Teachers don’t get paid enough for what they do.
- We don’t really have summers off even if we don’t work summer school. Summertime is for reflection and planning for the next year.
- A majority of our meetings could have been an email.
- The teachers’ lounge is the equivalent of the girls’ bathroom in middle school and high school (and equally as gross!).
- There are no ‘bad’ kids, just bad attitudes.
- Sometimes you are the problem. Sometimes you are also the solution.
- In order to be a good teacher, you need to be a bad one. Fail, fail, fail…to grow, grow, grow.
- Taking time for yourself is necessary and not selfish.
- Write down, screenshot, and save every note, kind message, or doodle a kid gives you. You will need them on the rough days when you feel like you’re on the verge of quitting.
