“Thank you for being such an incredible teacher and for making a difference in my life.” These are the kinds of words that melt any teacher’s heart into a pile of goo. For instance, it is the effect that these words had on my heart when one of my former students placed this heartwarming note in my mailbox before Thanksgiving break. Words of encouragement like these remind me once again why I love my job. It is not just a job to me; it is a calling. It is a privilege and honor to meet with students daily, teach them, train them, encourage them, and let them know that they are seen, heard, and deeply cared for.
When I was in high school, I knew I wanted to be in an occupation where I would help others learn and grow to be their best selves. Even at that early stage in my life, I enjoyed sharing my passion for history with others, digging deep into the complexities of humanity’s past with them while also encouraging them to apply the many lessons that history taught. Similarly, I also enjoyed leading Bible studies with my peers, helping them see the wonder of who God says He is. This passion for my faith led me into youth ministry for 3 years, which definitely taught me a lot about guiding and leading students. Those lessons in leadership would be put to good use near the end of those 3 years when a door opened for me to join the teaching staff at FHS in the fall of 2024. To this day, I am so thankful to have this job!
As the Christmas season rapidly approaches, so do all the memories of this past semester. It’s when teachers reflect on how their teaching went this year and when students reflect on how they probably should not have procrastinated on that specific project that they are now having to scramble to finish. Personally, I come to this moment of reflection with a deep sense of gratitude. I am thankful for the opportunity I have to love and care for the students who have been with me these past few months, and I am excited to meet my new batch of students who will be joining me next semester. I also reminisce about former students, still wishing them the best as I watch them grow and get closer and closer to that wonderful day of graduating high school!
In this time of reflection and joyful thankfulness, I want to encourage my fellow teachers to consider and remember why they first got into teaching. What was that initial spark that lit the flame for this occupation? For me, that first flame that still burns brightly has been the interactions that I regularly have with my students and the lessons they teach me as I teach them. Besides teachers, I want to also encourage students to consider how having the opportunity to get an education is a blessing that should not be taken lightly. It’s an incredible thing that we live in a country like this where we can receive an education to be able to experience our future lives to the fullest!
In the end, I hope this Christmas break will be a season of good memories, comforting thoughts, and a pleasant time of rest for everyone. For me, I will be considering how much I love my job and my life with my family and friends. I will also continue to reflect on the encouraging note that my former student left me. In a different portion of that same letter, my former student wrote, “You don’t just teach history.” These words inspired me greatly! I must always remember that my job is not just about teaching history or other social studies topics. Similarly, it is not just other teachers’ jobs to teach their specific subject areas. Rather, the occupation of being a teacher contains a higher calling to care for and encourage students to grow to accomplish their dreams and desires for the future. With that in mind, I can proudly stand on the fact that I “don’t just teach history” as I consider this past year of teaching and the impacts I have had on students and that they have had on me.
