Teaching is truly a passion for me. Sometimes I am surprised when I say that. I didn't always know I wanted to be a teacher and I sort of just happened upon it. In grade 12 English we took this aptitude test to sort of show us areas that we would possibly excel at. I don't remember what my other areas were, but I do distinctly remember being told via the test results that I would be a great teacher. I hadn't really thought about it before that, but I am sure at that moment an idea started to form in the back of my mind.
I didn't immediately look into teaching programs at universities though. I actually had a really excellent biology teacher in high school. Although my natural aptitudes are in the humanities he was so good that he created in me a true love for biology. I took Biology I and II and would have taken any other courses he offered. I went to university enrolled as a Biology major, hoping and expecting to become a marine biologist!
Well...that lasted for about a year. Soon I realized that the sciences were NOT my true love, but rather I had simply really enjoyed my bio courses in high school. I took a different path and ended up as an English major. Most of the time people wonder what you can even do with an English major...I happen to think there are many possibilities but I couldn't help but recall that test in English 12 and I decided to go the route of teaching.
Now, here I am. I am ten years-almost eleven!-after my graduation from university and have taught for many of those years. Since graduation I have taken two years off for maternity leaves and spent another year substitute teaching and teaching an online Spanish course. After this past ten years I can truly say that I love teaching.
I am always amazed at the conversations I am able to have with high school students. I can't help but wonder if my teachers were also amazed when I was the age of my students. I often think that I wasn't in quite the head space that these kids are in. Most people think the youth of today are listless punks that don't care about the world around them but I can testify that this is completely untrue. I daily interact with some phenomenal young people that have drive and determination, that have strong opinions, that have love for God and for those around them and they give me hope. They give me a hope for our future, they give me hope for all mankind, and they give me hope that each day can be a better one.
As a teacher I am also so blessed to work with some truly incredible people. In the last year and a half I have been given the opportunity to work part time. For me this truly is a dream come true as I can continue pursuing my career and fulfilling the side of me that loves to teach, yet also have more time being a mom to my little ones. My teaching partner is one of the greatest people I have ever met. Although he is relatively new to the teaching world he is BRIMMING with ideas. He has a creative side to him that challenges me to reach beyond the realm that I am complacently sitting in and strive to make each lesson, each assessment, and each interaction with my students more authentic. I have learned much about technology from him and he has also taught me to look at things in a different light. Working with him has stretched me in a good way, and I am blessed to be able to bounce ideas off of him. He is also incredibly forgiving when I forget things or mess things up.
I also have some amazing colleagues in general. We are a unique school, Pre-K to grade 12, all in the same building. We are a Christian school. These things give us so many incredible opportunities. My Writing 12 class gets to interact with the grade 1 class for short stories, I can go and ask elementary teachers for ideas or ways of looking at things that I might not think of as a high school teacher, my son attends the Kindergarten class and I can pop my head in and sneek a peak at him any time I want. (I try very hard not to abuse that privilege!) There is such a caring vibe and everyone really truly looks out for one another. We bond together in prayer for both good moments and difficult moments. We share financially when a member of our family is in need. We value one another's opinions. I have taught in several schools and it is here that I have felt like a valued member of the staff and that my ideas and opinions matter. It is here that I have been challenged by my principal to expand into new territories both professionally and personally. Not only am I challenged, however, I am actually given the support to do these things whether via professional development courses, one on one time in an advisory situation, or even simple notes of encouragement stuck on my desk in the morning. I am so blessed.
Teaching is something that I happened upon, but makes my life so much better. I love seeing students finally "get" that concept that they have struggled with. I love seeing my students improve their writing throughout the course of a year and come out on the other side saying, "I actually learned something." I desire to help them grow and stretch in their learning and to make things matter to them. I love it when I can answer that question "Why are we even learning this?" with a valid reason. I love seeing them realize that they actually can take something from Shakespeare and apply it to their lives and learning. Teaching? It rocks.
I am thankful that God took a tiny idea implanted in my mind back in grade 12 and turned it into a reality for me. I am thankful that He continues to challenge me through this amazing career. I am thankful that He allows me the best of both worlds...both as a teacher and as a mom and wife. I can't wait to see where this journey takes me in the future. I love it!
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