There really are few things in this world that bring a smile
to my face, and even fewer people. I’d
have to say that it’s been a long time since I’ve actually been able to say “I
love my job.” It’s true – I really
do. I think you know in your heart of hearts
where you belong once you get there, and for me, it’s pretty much already
happened. I graduated from retail to a
substitute teacher position with the school district. I do other odds and ends for the schools too,
but I definitely prefer to be in the classroom with the kids. For someone who doesn’t have any children and
only wishes he had, it really is the next best thing to actually being a
parent. Well, for me, that’s totally
apart from my own personal creations.
To some people it might seem like a mediocre goal, but the
desire to become a teacher supersedes all personal and professional opinions
put to me. I’ve practically thrown out
what everyone else wants me to do with my life in favor of what I want to do
with my life. I don’t really know and
can’t readily explain what brought me here, but after this short time in the
classroom, I can see why it’s important.
The best part about it is all of what I’ve come to expect, and so far,
my expectations have been far exceeded.
One hears the stories about kids these days and how they aren’t as
respectful as they used to be. It’s not
entirely true. Sure, there are going to
be a few hard headed students in the classroom; I think this is an inevitable
fact which will never cease to exist.
What makes the job really enjoyable are the very few students who
brighten your day, just by being in the same room with you.
I don’t know if you’ve ever had that experience where you
get the feeling where you can relate to someone without knowing the person all
that well, just by brief interaction.
I’d have to say the hardest thing for me about being a substitute
teacher is having to refuse attachment to anyone. It’s really hard not to adore the kids you
work with, no matter if it’s a few days out of the school year or weeks on
end. Well, I ran into something I knew
would end up happening eventually, but I didn’t realize it would be so
quick. As a teacher, you look at your
students, interact with them, and sometimes you’re struck by the memories you
have when you were in that very same situation.
For me, that happens to be the kind of student I was – quiet, reserved,
creative, behaved, and with my heart in the right place. I was very fortunate to end up working with a
student who exhibits these qualities and more.
Brief interaction with him brought me back to that place. It reminded me who I was, and in many ways,
how I still am.
I’m aware of my professional responsibility and I don’t play
favorites publicly, but this twelve year-old is my favorite. He literally is the spitting image of who I
was back then, and he’s always asking me questions about his assignments. On Wednesday morning, he forgot to print out
some pictures for an in-class project, and when he was told by a co-teacher
that it was homework, that he couldn’t go to the library and print it out, you
should have seen just how sullen he became.
He was really bothered by the fact that he couldn’t complete his
assignment in the way that he would have rather done it. So I stepped in. I took out my thumb disk, saved his document,
asked if I could go to the library for a couple of minutes and printed his
pictures for him. I don’t think it’s
something just anyone would have done, and it’s certainly something I wouldn’t
have done for every student. I did it
for him because he makes my job easier, because he’s witty and creative, and
because he wears his heart on his sleeve.
I have spoken with most of this boy’s regular teachers, and
they all say virtually the same thing, especially his science teacher. Man, has she really helped me out a lot since
I started working at this school! She
and I talk about him on and off, trading our stories. You know, I always said that in my teaching
career, if I could have a positive impact on just one student, I’ve done my
job. If that one student happens to be
this little boy, I would gladly go to my grave knowing that I did something to
have a positive impact on someone else.
Or maybe it’s because this student has given me a few brief memories,
ones I’ll always remember. He really is
one of a handful of people in this world who can truly make me smile.
