Top 10 Things I’ve Learned about Myself through Teaching

As I am one week into my 2nd semester of teaching and have done more than enough reflecting than I’d honestly like to admit, I’m starting to realize aspects of myself that have been impacted by my new profession. These past few months of teaching have taught me more about myself and life than I had originally anticipated and I’m tremendously grateful for the learning opportunities I’ve been provided along the way. With that being said, here are a few things I’ve come to learn about myself through my teaching experience thus far.

1. ) I take things way too personally.

I’ve always known this about myself and I never really viewed my over-sensitivity as a bad thing…until it started to interfere with my relationships with my students and the way I performed in my job. If a student experienced something at home, on the bus, or in the previous class that caused them to be in a bad mood and they lost their patience with me/shut-down in class/give me an attitude, I would take it extremely personally. I felt like it was my job to improve their mood, to erase whatever experience provoked their behavior, and create a better environment for them in my class. But I can’t expect myself to be responsible for “fixing” situations or improving someone’s mood completely. After several co-workers, friends, and even students pointed out how personally I take things that kids say to me, I knew I needed to re-evaluate my emotional capacity and the way I handle situations with kids. Not every snappy comment is a direct jab at me and someone else’s behavior, life decisions, or choices are not reflections on me. In moving forward, I think this is a life lesson that will greatly benefit me in the future and I’m glad I’m learning how to emotionally prioritize now as a 22 year old versus years from now when I’m an older adult.

2.) I thoroughly enjoy making a fool out of myself and making my students laugh.

Is there truly anything more rewarding than seeing a student smile because of something you did? I admit, I dance horrendously in front of my students. I play Disney music during project work time and sing off-key on purpose. I crack jokes that I know are bad but will guarantee a laugh regardless. I change my voice when teaching a lesson because I think it keeps students engaged (even though it probably confuses them in regards to my identify more than anything…). I am unafraid to make a fool out of myself because I think in return, it’s created a more comfortable, stress-free, and empowering classroom environment. If I can be my quirky self in in front of my kids, I hope they are learning to fearlessly be themselves too.

3.) I am committed to my vegetarian diet now more than ever.

Because hunting and trapping are ways of life down south, I stick out like a sore thumb. For most of my students, I am the first vegetarian they’ve ever met (and proud of it!). They really enjoy asking me about my meat-substitutes and tofu meals and in return, they tell me about their hunting adventures, the game they’ve killed, and the meals they prepare. Through these conversations, photos of dead animals, and countless videos I’ve seen of my students shooting their prey, I have realized how strongly committed I am to my vegetarian lifestyle. I definitely respect their love of hunting and will never try to persuade them to give meat up since it is so central to their lifestyle, but I’ve simultaneously been able to re-affirm my personal value for vegetarianism and am proud to be one.

4.) I love storytelling and hearing the stories of others.

Contrary to most people, as a teacher Mondays are my favorite day of the week. Why? Because I get to hear all of my students’ stories from the weekend. They love telling me what movies they saw, what happened while hunting with their family, their muddin’ adventures, etc. In return, I share snippets of my weekend and we continue this storytelling tradition everyday. Although adjusting to southern culture as a northerner was tough at first, I found that my students were so curious, eager, and willing to hear my stories and experiences from up north. Even now, after I’ve been teaching them for 5 months, they still have a bundle of questions for me each class about my life prior to Arkansas and I gladly entertain them. It’s a constant exchange of learning and stories and I am grateful to be a part of such an enriching experience with them everyday.

5.) I am a more patient person because of my students.

As an urbanite and proud northerner, I am always on the go and constantly looking to take on more and more. But since moving down south, I have come to appreciate slowing down time and appreciating the present. With that newfound perspective, I have also learned to be more patient with myself and others. I owe much of this newly discovered patience to my students. Even when they ask me the same question six times in a row, I have learned how destructive it can be to a classroom environment to snap or lose your patience with a student. My students have helped me take a deep breath, take each moment as it comes, and smile.

6.) I am still young and have a lot to learn.

Teaching is bigger than myself. It is an extremely challenging, morally rewarding, and difficult profession and I have so much respect for veteran teachers. I am constantly reminded with every mistake I make and obstacle I run into, that I am still young and have a lot to learn. I am only 22 and teaching over 100 students everyday — it’s not easy! I am bound to fall down but it’s when I get back up that I realize the growth I’m experiencing and the beneficial lessons I am learning that will help me for years to come.

7.) I love to laugh at myself. It keeps me grounded.

In reflecting on my last four years of college, I can’t believe how seriously I took myself sometimes. Being a first-year teacher has helped me realize how important and honestly rejuvenating it is to just laugh at yourself and remind yourself that you are human. Teaching is a tremendously humbling profession and I am grateful for the lessons its been teaching me that have helped me stay grounded.

8.) Just because I have four years of college under my belt, doesn’t mean I’m wiser than my students.

Many of my students have more life experience than I do. They’ve experienced a great deal of hardship in their lives, have been faced with very trying situations, and have home lives that can be very challenging. Their individual life experiences bring about a level of widsom that is incomparable. I’m always reminded that just because I went to college for four years, doesn’t mean I’m an expert on life by any means. We can all learn something from each other and become wiser with each relationship we make.

9.) I love motivating others.

I realized this in college when I served as the President of two student organizations but there’s something different about being able to motivate a bunch of rowdy 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th graders. Even if they don’t enjoy the content or are having a bad day, it brings me great joy to spark some motivation in my students and see them tackle an assignment.

10.) I am a better person because of my students, co-workers, and teaching in general.

Even when the daily grind of the school day gets stressful, I am so grateful to be a teacher. It is an experience I will never forget and feel deeply impacted by everyday. My students have made such an impact on my life and I’ve only known them for five months. Everyday I am reminded of how much more whole I feel because of this job.