I actually wrote this piece almost 6 years ago now but I felt the need to re-share it because I found it so valuable! And I hope other young teachers, or even veteran teachers, can relate and learn from it. I have always wanted to become a teacher and a coach; and finally after 25 years on the planet, I finally got to live out that dream. People always tell me that the older I get, the faster life goes. I think I’m starting to believe them. I can’t believe that my first year teaching was 6 years ago and so much has happened in my teacher life since then. Even more, the top 3 lessons I thought I was going to teach my students that first year, I ended up relearning the lessons for myself. And guess what…those lessons still remain true to this day.
Lesson #1: Stay passionate.
I heard the following quote when I was 17-years-old and it has been my favorite ever since: “Passion makes suffering look like entertainment.” I often use this quote as motivation to my players when coaching, using the hard preparation yet game entertainment as the perfect example. However, teaching high school students has reminded me just how important passion is in your every day life. I have seen people in every career that have lost their passion and in turn, lost their joy. I believe that my passion comes from my students, my players and the relationships I build with them. So after constant reminders, I have vowed to continuously strengthen my relationships with my students. Decades in the same job will not change my passion; it will not take my joy. I will always find passion in teaching and coaching because I will remember what it is truly about: the next generation finding their own passion and for the cycle to continue.
Lesson #2: Grow Old, Not Up.
The lyrics to this song (click the link and listen…no right now. Do it!) give us our Lesson #2. My dad and I have a lot of shared interests but our top one would probably have to be the artist of this song. If you know anything about JB fans (not to be mistaken for Justin Bieber…ever) we call ourselves “parrotheads” or as small children, “parakeets.” Above almost all else, we love to have fun! Returning to my inner child happened often in my classroom this year. Because I teach Spanish, simple activities are an easy way to interact and help the students memorize. Realizing that you’re only as old as you feel allowed me to understand that even as an adult, silliness and laughter will often times teach your students the most; and a teacher who can play with her students (even if they are 17-years-old) will reach them more than one who just lectures them. Receiving this feedback from my own students pushed me into my second vow: “Grow Old, Not Up.”
Lesson #3: Never Stop Learning.
As an undergraduate student, I remember my professors always telling me that as “teachers we never stop learning.” Most teachers think it is their number one job to teach. Pretty standard opinion and I can’t say that I blame them. Fortunately, I have been blessed with phenomenal former teachers and coaches that have instilled a different mindset in me. My number one job is to learn. If I teach the same stuff over and over again, I’m going to eventually run out of things to teach and on top of that ways to teach them. However, if I continue to learn more and more about my content, about my sport, about life in general I will always be able to keep my students’ attention. Isn’t that what teaching is all about in the first place…the students. So we have arrived at my final vow which is to
Never.
Stop.
Learning.
These three lessons are few of many but in my opinion, the most important. My first year teaching was unbelievable. The constant reassurance that this is what I was born to do encouraged me daily. What I love about the world of education is the lessons you learn are not just for those involved in this occupation, but they are applicable to any profession. I love what I do because I learn something different every day, usually from my kids, which makes me love them that much more. Sure…I could strangle them all at least 10 times a day…but because I am intentional about my relationships with them these life lessons we share makes it all worth it. So no matter what stage you are at in life, no matter what you do day in and day out, remember my first written lesson: stay passionate, never grow up, and never stop learning.