Today was the last day of my first year teaching. Looking back to mid-year, there were times when I wanted to quit and didn't think I could do it. There have been so many people that have been pivotal in my success personally and as a teacher this past year. Here are a few of those gem-people:
Mrs. Campo- my English partner teacher, has been super easy to work with this year. She's been completely supportive, encouraging, sacrificing, laid-back, efficient, and a good example of loving the kids. I'm so grateful for her. I hope one day I can be as efficient as her!
My second grade team- terrible picture of all of us, but these women were super patient with me asking a billion questions all the time. They were all great examples of helping those struggling students improve and also being positive.
Mrs. Mattson- I can't even begin to describe how much this woman has helped me this past year. She is the principal at Ridgecrest and has a God-given gift with making people feel good about themselves. Seriously. After every single interaction I have had with her, I have felt better about myself and my life. Literally. She encouraged me in moments of desperation and helped me rise to what she thought I was. I would not be teaching next year if it were not for her support and encouragement. She's a saint and I aspire to be like her one day.
Leigh- the achievement coach. This woman could read me like a book. She is the only one that's seen me have an emotional breakdown, and hear me say, "I want to quit!" and help me out of it. She gave me a hug when I needed one, feedback when I needed it, and encouragement always. Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of her, but she'll be there next year. Bless her beautiful hide.
Amy & Tiffany- the other Chinese teachers. We saw each other in the day-to-day and they were a huge in helping me cope with the challenges of first year teaching. They helped me with my Chinese, were my friends, fed me Chinese food, and gave me opportunities to serve. That's not to say that they also saw me at my worst when I was impatient or frustrated, but they were always forgiving.
They go back to Taiwan this next week and I will miss them.
Some valuable lessons I've learned this past year teaching:
1. Positive reinforcement works wonders. In your own life as well as in your interactions with others.
2. Having a vision for why you're doing what you're doing will keep you motivated when the tasks are mundane, annoying, or may require you to sacrifice things you don't want to.
3. You can handle anything for a limited amount of time. You can also get used to most environments with a change of attitude, even if you initially found it frustrating or annoying.
4. Prayer really works in finding solutions to real-life problems or finding strength to go on. I believe that 100% . Here's why:
One time, I was super stressed about teaching a lesson in geometry, because I didn't know how to teach them so they'd remember how to say "rectangular prism, quadrilateral, cylinder, verticies, flat surface, etc" in Chinese. Heck, I didn't even know how to say them in Chinese. I prayed about it and told Heavenly Father I really needed His help that day. I had an idea to do actions with each shape to help them (and me) remember. We even did a rap to remember the different characteristics of each shape. It was hands-down the most effective math lesson I ever taught, and I owe that idea 100% to Heavenly Father. Isn't it amazing that He cared about that?
5. You can do anything for one more day, or one more hour, minute, etc.
6. Trials are sometimes meant to help us become better people (or in my case, teacher), or develop patience and change the way we do things for the better. Some of my most challenging students taught me to be a better teacher and to make what I was teaching more engaging.
7. There is a time and a season for everything. Sometimes you'll need to work extra hours and sacrifice more than you want for a job or for something. And that's okay, for a little while.
8. Just because something is hard and time-consuming in the beginning, doesn't mean it always will be. You will become more and more efficient at anything you work at.
9. Sometimes it's necessary to accept trials as just something that you have to deal with, instead of being frustrated about it or trying to change it. More often when your each the point of acceptance and being happy now, the trial will go away.
10. Generally speaking, people are very generous and kind than I sometimes I assume they are.
11. Sometimes you have to accept the reality that what you can do may not be the best you could do, but is the best you can do in the circumstances. Be gentle with yourself.
12. Tone of voice has everything to do with how discipline is received. It's more important that what you say.
13. There are some things a teacher shouldn't have to deal with, and that's when you shouldn't hesitate to hand it over to the principal.
14. Before you decide to quit at something, you need to "use your resources" and communicate your frustrations with someone above you, even if it makes you look weak.
15. People are good. I've been amazed at how supportive, kind, and generous all of the parents and also coworkers have been. They hardly ever mean to hurt your feelings and they almost always are willing to help out, even going above and beyond.
ex) $25 giftcard to Subway, $15 Barnes & Noble giftcard, $10 Kneaders giftcard, $10 Red Mango frozen yogurt giftcard, $15 Blue Lemon giftcard, $50 Chipotle giftcard, $10 Jamba Juice giftcard, $10 Starbucks giftcard, $25 Target giftcard, $10 Target giftcard, $10 Target giftcard, $20 Target giftcard, $25 Target giftcard, 4 free Movie ticket coupons, and that's just not including all of the other generous gifts I've gotten throughout the school year for Christmas, Teacher Appreciation week, etc...
Um, blessed much?
16. The importance of being nice. 99% of the time if you ask the kids what they like about you/someone else or what they don't like about you/someone else, they'll either respond with "they're nice" or "they're not nice." Nice is almost always their adjective of choice. And don't think it's because they haven't learned other adjectives, because they have. I've thought a lot about why this is, and I think the world would be a lot better if we would just "Be nice."
17. It builds character to do things you don't want to do. Or at least that's what my mom tells me every time I call her and complain about something.
18. Kids want to see you having fun and enjoying teaching them. They'll do anything to make you smile.
19. Getting kids to enjoy learning is just as valuable as getting them to understand the information.
20. Let kids be kids and don't expect them to be robots. My dad told me this piece of advice on our road trip out west and I thought it wrung true. Sure, you need order and discipline, but every [happy] kid should be crazy every once in a while. Encourage creativity and expression.
Some valuable lessons I've learned from these munchkins:
1. A bag of ice can heal any ailment.
"So-and-so is being mean to me, can I go get a bag of ice from the office?'
"I have a headache, can I go get a bag of ice?"
"I'm bleeding, can I go get a bag of ice?'
Do you have a problem? Try getting a bag of ice and see if that helps. I was doubtful at first, but I'm convinced now.
2. Happiness.
Almost everyday, these kids would literally bounce into my room, ready to learn. People are born innately happy, and somehow the world teaches us that outside circumstances control our happiness. And although they do cry sometimes, and about the most random things, they get over it and are generally more happy than most adults. They skip or bounce from one activity to the next. Who does that? They do. They've got sunshine beaming from their fingertips.
3. Don't hold grudges.
One minute you may be scolding them and disciplining them, and you may feel so frustrated and think they hate you, and then they come back in 5 minutes later completely unaffected. And they still love you.
4. Don't let the world build your insecurities.
Generally speaking, kids think everyone cares about everything they have to say. I love it. They are completely without guile and will willingly share anything with anyone. It makes it easy to love them because they are so innocent. Somehow us adults become all closed-off and don't let people in, building insecurities by what the world tells us.
5. Be everyone's friend.
They don't care what you wear, how much makeup you wear, where you're from, what religion you are, what your socioeconomic status is, how they'll look when they talk to you, etc...they are completely without judgement.
Those are just a few of the things I've learned. I can think of thousands of other things, but I'll spare you those details. You get a prize if you've actually read all of this. Isn't it great how life brings us all sorts of knowledge packaged in experience? I'll have to say I'm ready for a break. #Sicknessvirusbaneofmyexistence Round 6 (since August) hit me yesterday just to remind me how much I really need a break. Just in case I forgot.
Now on to whatever the future holds...
Hello, Summer! You are very much appreciated.
