Another One Down

Another semester is over. I can't believe I am already half-way done with my sixth year of teaching! Time passes by so quickly.

I really do like my job, and while I would love to be able to stay home and be a full time mommy, I am happy with what I do for now, and thankful that I am able to be part time. I love working with 16 and 17 year olds. I love watching them learn. I enjoy having conversations with them, seeing the proverbial light-bulb light up. I get so excited as I see them working hard, figuring things out, and maturing socially in and out of class.

Are there frustrations? Sure there are, just like with any job. Are there times when I could go on about it for hours? Yep. But all in all, I like teaching. I like knowing that I am a capable professional with a college degree who has chosen, yes chosen, to dedicate my career to the thousands of students that will pass through my door. And am I perfect? Far from it. Do I make mistakes? You bet I do. Not a day goes by that I don't wish I could have done something differently, or changed an interaction with a student, or approached a topic in a more exciting way. But I do the best I can, and despite the mistakes that I know I make, I earnestly hope that I am inspiring, encouraging, and intriguing the minds of my students much more often.

I love teaching. I don't know how long I will do it. I don't know if I will teach until retirement, or move on to something else later. I don't know what the future holds; but for now I know that what I am doing fits. I know that I too am inspired by my students, by my hard working colleagues, and by my passion for literature, grammar(yes, passion for grammar) and learning. I hope, I truly hope, that some day, more people will realize that there are more good teachers than bad, that more of us work hard than don't, and that teaching is an honorable position, not a last resort.