Realisations. I see my little daughter walk towards me for the first time and realise that she is growing up. I hear about people in my own country being persecuted for the clothing that they wear and I realise that in some ways our progress as society has been more shallow than I had hoped. I watch people make sacrifices for those displaced by the floods in June and realise that perhaps we have progressed more than I thought. I teach a biology course for the 20th time and think I've heard it all, and this week I had a kid ask me a really insightful question, and I see things in a brand new light again.Oh, the power of realisation. Sometimes it almost feels like it is revelation.
My biggest realisation this week was the fact that I have started my twelfth year of teaching. I have taught across the spectrum, and I have had many ups and downs. For some reason, I thought it was only ten years. I guess time goes more quickly at my age. I suspect that I am entering the last year of my first third of my education career. Looking back I find myself reflecting on what has changed the most. Each year I grow and change. Each year comes with new challenges and revelations. As I focus on the first part of my career, I find that there is one thing that permeates throughout all of the many different schools that I have worked at. That one thing is the impact of my students on my life. I have had some that have been amazing, and some that were a severe trial, with a range in between. Through all the good times and the bad I have had students that lifted me up, most often in ways that they did not realise were of benefit to me. I know that I have forgotten many of their names, especially in the early years, but their impact has been a buoy even years after they sat in front of me. At Centre High in Edmonton, I remember fondly the students who treated a brand new shiny teacher that they were hopeful for my success. I still to this day have the Farming Game that one class chipped together to get me for Christmas. I also remember one young lady who when she learned that due to budget reasons that I would not be employed by Edmonton Public any more, she wrote me glowing reference letter. I wonder if I still have that letter. I hope so.
In Radville, Saskatchewan, I had my first experience with students who hated me. I grew a lot from them. I also had a lot who loved me, and I discovered that the real reason I go to work every day is for those kids. I learned that I can't please everyone, and sometimes my perceived short comings are the problems of those who choose it to be so, not my own. I remember well a group of students who would find out what mischief students in another grade were going to attempt in my class, then let me know so I could be prepared for them. I wonder if that other group ever realised how I knew their every move.
After Radville I went to Thunderchild First Nation. Talk about a learning experience. My students their taught me how crucial resiliency is. I watched as kids who were on the cusp of adulthood be thrust into parenting roles within their own families due to circumstances beyond their control. I saw some falter while others flourished. I watched students get knocked down again and again and again, and each time they got up and pushed forward. I saw how drugs and alcohol ruined promise and hope. I saw violence that tore at a community like a frenzied wolf, and then saw the community come together. I saw children respond to a firm and steady voice, and it was here that I came to know how important a teacher can be in the life of a child. I went through the worst part of my personal life with these kids, and to hear so many positive things about myself from these kids was my life preserver. There are a handful who have eternally etched themselves into my soul. I keep track of them via Facebook, and things look good.
Moving back to Calgary I found myself subbing with FFCA, mostly in elementary schools. I loved having a group of Grade 2 students who I was with the day before run across the hall to give me a massive group hug. I feel much more comfortable with teens than elementary, but those little tykes were great. A hug from a child is always welcome. I then spent a few months at Sir Winston Churchill high school. I will not forget a group of six students who were so different and yet very tight. They reminded me of a stereotypical cast of one of those teenage horror movies, where a killer stalks a group of friends and bumps them off one by one (wow, how morbid). What was special about them was how diverse they were in ethnicity, religion, gender, ability, and so on, yet they worked so well together. they could teach us all a few lessons on inclusion and acceptance.
Finally, I found myself in my current assignment. I have been at this school the longest (unless you are talking about campuses, and then it's a tie with Radville at three years), and as far as I am concerned I will be here until retirement. I marvel at what these kids have taught me. To find a school where character and leadership are such an integral part of their educational practices creates a special kind of student. I have been honoured in so many different ways by these kids, and I have felt a desire far greater than with any other school to push myself out of my comfort zone. I have been inspired by these kids in their character, their responsibility, their humour, their art, and their spirits. I have had the great pleasure of seeing some amazing kids walk these halls and they are heading out into the world reading to leave their mark. What is interesting to me is that most of them have not yet realised that they have already left their mark. I take lessons from them and pass those on to the next batch of students.
So as I reflect and realise the wonders that exist in my students, I feel that my top 10 list is dedicated to them. If tonight was my last night on Earth...wait, that's a bit over dramatic. How about: "If today was my last day in front of the classroom...". Ah, yes, much better. If today was my last day in front of the classroom, here is the list of what I want my students to know.
10. What is failure? Failure is a choice. Failure is a chance. Failure is an opportunity. Failure is a possibility. Whenever you fail, you decide how it will effect you.
9. To thine own self be true (Catchy, huh. Belongs in a play or something). I have always felt that a person is successful whenever they are true to themselves.
8. Change your perspective from minimum to maximum. Stop thinking about how little work you need to achieve your dreams. Start looking at it as how much you can do to achieve your dreams. In school, stop wondering what the least amount of work you can do to get a good mark, but start trying to see how much you can learn. Whatever your job is, stop doing the bare expected minimum. Do the most you can to be the best at your job. You will have more success than you could ever imagine with that attitude.
7. Don't sweat the petty things... There is so much in life that we can get caught up in that in the grand scheme of things are unimportant. Don't let the little things bring you down. Don't let them sway you from what is important.
6. (continues from #7)... and don't pet the sweaty things. There is too much garbage in the world. Don't get involved in it. If you are involved in some of it, get out of it. There are people out there that will tell you if you smoke this substance, or look at this material, and listen to this hate that you will feel good. Those are lies. Stay away from them. Oh, and to the Class of 2013, that was from me!
5. Love is strength. If you want to change someone, love them. If you want to change your life, love more. If you want to overcome hate, use love, not more hate. Nothing beats love.
4. You never stop learning. At least, unless you do not believe in life after death. Then, you only stop learning when you die. Stop fighting it and embrace the learning. Knowing stuff and wondering about things are powerful. It can be the best part of your day.
3. Smile at strangers. You never know what your smile will bring to them. You may be the brightest part of that person's day. Also, you may make some people wonder what you're up to!
2. Always be yourself, but always be your better self. We all have good things and bad things about ourselves. We are all imperfect. Sometimes we justify our bad actions and poor choices because we are being "true to ourselves'. That's a cop out, and you know better. Be yourself, yes, but be the best self you can be.
1. How do you make a difference in the world? It does not matter how much money you make or how many people know your name. It makes no difference how many papers or novels you publish, nor how many followers you have on Twitter. Positions of power and authority do not equate with influence. If you want to make a difference in the world, then focus on the relationships you have with people. If you focus on relationships, then you will be a major power of change.
Good night.
