Sometimes I get really tired of my job. I mean, I love teaching, but sometimes I am just so incredibly tired of making copies, alphabetizing worksheets, dealing with friendship dramas, keeping track of permission slips, worrying about art projects……
Sometimes I just feel depleted, and I start to wonder, “Why do I bother?”
Then I have a day that reminds me of exactly why I do bother. A day like today.
I have a student who is a whirling dervish of charm and energy and need and nerves and joy. She makes my head spin. She is literally incapable of walking; she flits and she zooms and she scampers. No matter what I say, she simply cannot walk. Sometimes that makes me scream. But sometimes it makes me chuckle. Today I was feeling weary and worn, as I gave my class some directions. My little roadrunner immediately jumped up and tried to sprint to the door. But as she flew across the room, she suddenly crashed right into me. We both staggered, and I drew in a breath to reprimand her. Before I could find the words, though, she threw both arms around me, sent out a delighted peal of laughter, and shouted, “I KNEW you needed a hug!”
She is why I bother.
Another one of my students is sad, withdrawn, often quiet to the point of silence. I have to work hard every day just to get him to raise his hand, even though I know how smart and thoughtful he is.
Today we had a mid-year conference, and he showed me his student portfolio. He talked about his work, and then, completely out of the blue, he began to talk about last April 15th, when he went to see the Red Sox play at Fenway Park. He told me how he walked out of the ballpark with his mother and sister, hoping to find a place to eat. Instead, they found themselves running with the crowd of terrified people, away from the site of the Boston Marathon bombing that had just happened just a few blocks away. My little student spoke quickly and quietly, with an intense maturity that belied his tender age. He told me that his family was at first confused, then afraid. His Mom speaks little English, so the responsibility of finding a safe route home fell onto his fragile shoulders. He spoke softly, describing his desire to keep his family safe, trying to find a way out of the city, trying to find a place to be safe.
He talked to me about the dreams that he has had since that day, wondering “What would happen to me if I was there, if I was closer.” I told him that I was sorry for what he had been through. I told him that he was one of the bravest people I know. I didn’t mention the country that he left behind to come here, or the struggles that he and his family have faced since then. But I held his hand, and I told him that he was strong, and brave and a person to be admired. He didn’t smile. But his dark eyes held onto mine, and his hand responded to my grasp. He nodded, looking so much older than he is. “Yes,” he said, “I am very brave.”
He is exactly why I bother.
Empty Nest, Full Life 
Beautifully written. I bet you have a thousand reasons why you keep teaching and I am personally grateful that you do. There aren’t nearly enough “yous” in the world.
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I have been really struggling this year, finding it harder and harder to stay positive and motivated. Yesterday was really a boost.
Thank you for your kind words!
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Hope there will always be good teachers who bother! You are molding our future.
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Sometimes I am sure that those kids are the ones molding the future; I’m just sort of the guide!
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And YOU are why THEY bother.
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Aw, jeez, sounded like I was fishing, didn’t it?
Really, its just been a hard year, what with the bullshit of the common core, the new tests, the teacher evaluations, the constant references to “our broken schools”……Those kids keep me sane.
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Not really. I just wish you had been my 5th grade teacher. Or better still, my son’s. Sigh.
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I wish I had, too! Then you would have been one of those “awesome moms” that we teachers talk about!
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As long as it was 5th grade — that was a great year for Jacob. Other years, not so much.
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Your kids are incredibly lucky to have you there.
And I’m happy the next generation has someone who does care.
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Well, thank you so much, but don’t forget that I leave out all the times I gripe at them or get frustrated with them…..I really should post something about those moments!
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Thank you ❤
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No, thank THEM! Turned around a bad week.
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WOW
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They really are my heroes; its hard to explain just how much I want to shut the door, close out the world and just be with people under 12.
No offense, of course!
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I can only imagine how difficult your job in teaching can be some days! It seems that our education system appears to be a place for parents to lay blame for all that is going wrong with our children. Instead, society should be looking at what our children are learning in their home environment & take responsibility for the actions & behaviour of our kids. It is due to the good work of dedicated teachers like yourself that some of these kids receive proper guidance & support. Clearly, you made a difference in the two young people you sited today in your post. I am certain they are just two among many!
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Thanks, Lynn!
I work in a wonderful community with very supportive parents. The pressures on teachers are coming mostly from the so called “Common Core” and the incredibly corporate influence on our daily lives now. Sometimes, though, the needs of the kids (just because they are kids) can seem overwhelming. Its just nice to refocus on those special, tender moments!
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