Sometimes we feel as though we work in a world that is unappreciative of what we do. There are always supporters, and there are always the nay-sayers. The world of education is no different, and we find that we have to rise above the chaos and walk and work into the calling that God has on our lives. The great thing about education is that one voice makes a difference because it is one of the most impactful instruments that we have. We never know whether a smile, a pleasant greeting, or a listening ear can be the difference between a student having a good day, performing academically, or not contemplating hurting themselves. We may never see the happy returns, but once in a while, a student will let us know.
For the past year and a half, life, as we know it, has not been the same. We have monitored and adjusted schedules, and we have worked from home. We have worked overtime to ensure quality, and we have revamped lessons to accommodate. We have forged ahead when our energy levels have left us running on fumes. We have extended more grace than we ever thought we were capable of giving. At the end of it all, we can find ourselves depleted physically, mentally, and emotionally. Yet, we continue to get up and return to this process, and all we are asking is that students give us their best effort.
I think of how Jesus must have felt the exhaustion of having people constantly seek him for answers, comfort, relief, and healing. Yet, through it all, He rested, and He continuously poured into people with grace and love. All He asked in return was repentance and obedience. Matthew 11:28-30 says “Come unto me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” As educators, we grow weary as we carry the situations and concerns of our students, administration, parents and community, but turning to the Savior recharges us.
Just as the disciples were given the charge to “…go and make disciples of all the nations…”, we are being obedient in our calling to impart wisdom to the masses. In our obedience to our calling, we reveal our passion for shaping young minds. “I therefore…urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love” (Ephesians 4:1-2 NASB).
While we may try to perform our educational duties with love and patience, there are times when we feel that we give and give with no return on our investments (student success). We lecture to blank stares, expressions of boredom, and disengagement. We attempt to make lessons relevant to real-world experiences. We try to insert hands-on opportunities and student-led activities despite the exasperated sighs and eye-rolling. We choose to redirect the negative attitude, the snide, disrespectful remarks, and the mumbles under the breath. These are the days of challenges when we question, reflect, and reassess our purpose.
Jesus faced many of the same attitudes as he tried to teach the Word. He faced opposition from many of his disciples who left him, religious leaders who wanted him killed, and the Pharisees who didn’t like or believe what Jesus was saying. How discouraging. But, through it all, Jesus continued in His mission to teach, and in return He witnessed people who were repenting and accepting truth. We teach students in hopes of creating productive, articulate, analytical thinkers, and future leaders. Sometimes we don’t see our hard work brought into fruition, and just as we become a little discouraged, we are given small gifts that remind us of our purpose. “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).
As the school year is slowly coming to an end, the dust is starting to settle, the halls are becoming a little emptier, and the energy is evaporating, we steal away for moments of reflection. Did we teach to the best of our abilities? Were we able to engage all students? Are we appreciative that we persevered and did not quit? What did student retain from our class? Looking into the faces of students, did they hear anything we said throughout the year? Did we reach them? Will we ever see the labor of our work?
Just as we are being introspective, affirmation appears. As seniors leave my classroom for the last time, I have given them several charges in my “This I Believe” speech, as they leave high school and enter into adulthood:
1. Set your priorities for living: faith, family, and everything else.
2. Make wise choices: in friends, in love, in social settings, etc.
3. Follow your intuition and do not overthink or ignore it.
4. Be a light for others. Watch out and protect your sisters (girlfriends).
5. Do not allow test scores, grades, or people define who you are.
6. Set the world on fire and be a game-changer.
7. This I believe….I believe in you and the unique giftedness that God has equipped you with to walk into your calling with passion because you are the future. You are game-changers.
I look my students in the eye because I want them to hear my truth and see in themselves what I see. I never know what goes through their minds, if they believe what I am saying, or if it impacts their perspectives about the future in any way. I never expect a response, but once in a while I am reminded of the power of words through the voice of one of the quietest students in class.
Dear Teacher,
I I never usually write letters to teachers or anybody for that matter, but there was something in me telling me I needed to write to you to thank you! Ms. T., thank you from the bottom of my heart for coming to teach at OURHS. I know that this has been an especially challenging year to teach with COVID-19, not to mention being a brand new teacher at OURHS and getting used to the curriculum. In the four years I’ve been here, I’ve never had a teacher like you Ms. T., and I mean that in the best way possible. You are unapologetically yourself; you aren’t afraid to speak your mind; you ask and challenge students’ input on topics, and you actually care about the human beings in your classroom. Often, while I technically am a student at this high school, I feel as if that’s all that I am. I feel like a “student of OURHS” is the only thing that defines me because that’s what I’ve been treated like here. You made me feel like my personal opinions on things mattered from the first day of your class. What’s funny though is that all you did was ask my opinion, as well as other students’ opinions of things in our class and that alone made me feel validated and welcomed. Teacher, this may have been your first year teaching at this school, but of the dozens of teachers I’ve encountered, I can proudly say that you have allowed me to feel accepted at this school for the first time. Now, I’m not sure if the curriculum of this school has anything to do with how teachers go about getting to know their students, but I genuinely have only felt 100% understood at this school in your classroom. Ms. T., for the future of my school that I am graduating from this year, please continue to voice your opinion to students, other teachers, and other faculty. OURHS has a very interesting dynamic as a school, and it can be quite difficult to understand at times, but you have allowed me to leave OURHS with a more positive outlook than ever. So, again Ms. T., thank you so much for opening up to this class I’ve been in, for allowing us to open up to you and our peers in the room without fear of judgment, and for ultimately creating that environment for us in room 000. You have inspired me greatly to be true to myself despite what is around me. You will never be forgotten by me because I know I was blessed with you as one of my final teachers at OURHS. Thank you, Ms. T.
Sincerely,
Your Student
At the end of the day, I recognize the gift in teaching and the rewards that come with it. I realize that I have come full circle in my career and embrace the calling on my life with the understanding that there are more masses to feed. With the conclusion of this school year, I think of the verse from 2 Timothy 4:7, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” I close this year reminded of purpose and process, the power of words, the fulfillment of the greatest command to love one another, the obedience of walking into God’s calling, and serving with appreciation and humility.
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