"In a completely rational society, the best of us would aspire to be teachers and the rest of us would have to settle for something less, because passing civilization along from one generation to the next ought to be the highest honor and highest responsibility anyone could ever have."Teaching...it's just what I do. It's not just a "job" or a paycheck. It's my career and my craft. For reasons unknown to many, society has a double standard of teachers. People will praise you and say what a noble profession that it is. Then they will turn around and say something like "Those who can't teach". What many people in society fail to realize is that we work hard....far beyond the 8-3, 9 months a year calendar you see. We take things home with us.....paper work, projects, ideas, and sometimes worry and concern for our students. We spend evenings crafting new ideas and our summer breaks perfecting them.
-Lee Iaacocca
For myself, teaching is something that I strive hard to perfect. I work on it each and everyday of my life. I am no where near perfection. Each and every day when I walk into my classroom, I hope that I learn just as much from my student as they learn from me. Many times, they teach me so much about the world around me. They teach me that Santa is real and that you can buy candy with money from the tooth fairy. They keep me up to date on the latest Disney shows and newest cartoons. They help me remember what it's like to learn something for the first time and recall the joy and excitement of the the journey through childhood and making new discoveries along the way. Most of all, they make me realize, that it's the little things that count...that sometimes we have to slow down and take things one at a time, but keep our eyes on the bigger picture.
One time, someone trying to be snarky about teachers asked me what I did. My response, "I teach people how to manage their finances". I then kindly explained to them that I taught them how to read and write, hold a pencil to one day sign their name on a check, count numbers, identify coin value, add and subtract, and so much more. It goes back to taking small steps while looking at the bigger picture. In order to successfully manage money one day, you have to start with the basics....holding the writing tool to sign the check.
Everyone has a favorite teacher that they carry with them in their heart forever. Mine was my 4th grade teacher Mrs. Bach. In a class in undergrad we had a professor who gave the best advice for future teachers. It was simple. Think of the teacher who inspired you the most and try to be half as good as them. I have never forgotten those words and I hope I can find success in my career and leave footprints in a students heart the way she did mind. And for the record, I don't remember reading, writing, and arithmetic from her class. I remember a teacher that found the best in every child, helpped those who struggled, and pushed those who excelled. She made each and every child feel special..including me. Most of all, she made a difference in my life.
