What could be better than loving what you have to do for 8-13 hours per day anyways? I think that it is so sad when people hate their jobs, dread going to work, bored all day, no warm fuzzy feeling about all of the people that they are helping or the good work that they are doing.
Being a teacher is HARD WORK. I am on the stage all day long-performing-all in an attempt to get my kids to remember and learn and grow. After 6 hours of acting, I sit down and plan my next performance, grade papers, write IEP's, send emails, call parents-anything that I can to give a child the best education that I can. The mantra in our school among the teachers is "Is it best for kids?". If the answer is no, then you shouldn't be doing it. How awesome is that? In return, I get respect, love, and growth as a gift from my students. I watch them blossom right before my very eyes.
I still sit in awe some days that parents send their children to our school and into my classroom everyday, entrusting me with their child's education-quite possibly the most important and life changing thing that could ever happen to them. How lucky am I? I think that I have the best job in the world.
One of my favorite quotes: "Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit"
-John Steinbeck
Maureen - how cool that you LOVE your job! Not many people can say that - so you are truly blessed. I have to admit, I share your love of teaching. I'm new to the gig and teaching a different medium (yoga) - but I get the same sense of joy after finishing a class.
ReplyDeleteI love your school's mantra about teaching - I'm going to have to come up with a mantra for my yoga teaching :)
Keep up the great work - your students are lucky to have you as a teacher.