This summer, I kicked off heat-filled, sweaty days with tutoring. For eight days, I chilled in the AC with some cool teens to give them a little more practice. A little more writing. A little more reading. A little more love. They were fun! They were quirky and spunky. They handled my caffeinated goofiness with ease. They tried what I asked them to try. I really had a good time.
In the midst of workshopping and revising, I did what every good teacher does - I had one of those "when I was in high school" moments! Just can't seem to help myself... I don't even recall what we were talking about or how we got there. Anyway, somewhere in my high school conversation, the students asked what my class rank was back then, and I avoided the question. I told them it wasn't relevant. I explained how what I learned about teaching and myself in college was so much more valuable. Yet they persisted. Finally, I told them.
Their reaction?
"Why aren't you doing something important, Miss?"
"Why aren't you a doctor or a scientist?"
"Why aren't you changing the world?"
I was completely stunned. I could feel the heat sizzle my neck like a sparkler as my fists clenched the edge of the nearest table. I wanted to scream at them! I was angry. Then, I took a deep breathe.
"What makes you think I don't change the world every day?" I asked. I leaned in to stare intently into their eyes. "Consider how many futures are in this room that I am influencing right now. How many other futures have I already impacted in my 18 years in this job? You may not see it now, but I believe I am doing something important. It is the most important job I could do. If I help you even in the slightest way become a better reader, writer, and thinker, and because of that, you are emotionally and financially better off as an adult, then that should count as something important, right?"
"Oh," they said. "You are right. I hadn't thought about it like that." (One also said, "Ok, ok, calm down, Lady!" Guess I deserved that!)
It makes me a little sad that they didn't see teaching as a valuable profession. I could blame it on the fact that they are teens, but something tells me that I may have gotten the same reaction from most adults.
I spent the rest of my time with them pushing their reading and writing to hopefully another level (or three). Simultaneously, I focused on a repeated message - that we can all change the world by reaching for our dreams, no matter their content or our origins. That we are all valuable. And that we all can pay it forward in a way that builds a better future for everyone.
I sure hope they got the message.
In the midst of workshopping and revising, I did what every good teacher does - I had one of those "when I was in high school" moments! Just can't seem to help myself... I don't even recall what we were talking about or how we got there. Anyway, somewhere in my high school conversation, the students asked what my class rank was back then, and I avoided the question. I told them it wasn't relevant. I explained how what I learned about teaching and myself in college was so much more valuable. Yet they persisted. Finally, I told them.
Their reaction?
"Why aren't you doing something important, Miss?"
"Why aren't you a doctor or a scientist?"
"Why aren't you changing the world?"
I was completely stunned. I could feel the heat sizzle my neck like a sparkler as my fists clenched the edge of the nearest table. I wanted to scream at them! I was angry. Then, I took a deep breathe.
"What makes you think I don't change the world every day?" I asked. I leaned in to stare intently into their eyes. "Consider how many futures are in this room that I am influencing right now. How many other futures have I already impacted in my 18 years in this job? You may not see it now, but I believe I am doing something important. It is the most important job I could do. If I help you even in the slightest way become a better reader, writer, and thinker, and because of that, you are emotionally and financially better off as an adult, then that should count as something important, right?"
"Oh," they said. "You are right. I hadn't thought about it like that." (One also said, "Ok, ok, calm down, Lady!" Guess I deserved that!)
It makes me a little sad that they didn't see teaching as a valuable profession. I could blame it on the fact that they are teens, but something tells me that I may have gotten the same reaction from most adults.
I spent the rest of my time with them pushing their reading and writing to hopefully another level (or three). Simultaneously, I focused on a repeated message - that we can all change the world by reaching for our dreams, no matter their content or our origins. That we are all valuable. And that we all can pay it forward in a way that builds a better future for everyone.
I sure hope they got the message.
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