Sep 20 2007
on absence and positivity
i can honestly say i haven’t felt so positively and been so excited about the future since i enrolled in a program in multimedia and began my last career pursuit. i’ve also noticed that the ‘mike’ that i remember, the stories from the past, the social butterfly has been absent for quite some time. i’ve been mired for years in a job and environment that i hated, stress and anxiety and gradually withdrawing from social interaction. i felt like the real me and somehow vanished into the ether.
well returning to school the past year and a bit has been the best change i could have imagined. i’m excited to be moving into something new and actually meeting new kindred spirits pursuing their dreams. the teaching program has been unbelievably rejuvenating for me. i’ve come back out of the old curmudgeonly shell i’d developed, made new friends (already) and embarked on what has been an exciting journey of discovery. i’m doing something that actually makes me feel good and is a contribution to the community. i’d forgotten how much i really enjoy teaching, and also how much fun and energy young people bring to our lives.
now that i’ve spent a week in a school as a student teacher i know now more than ever, teaching is the profession i was destined for.
2 Responses to “on absence and positivity”
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Having worked with the “old” Mike, it has been exciting to read about your journey to the “new” you.
Yes, I’d have to say that teaching definitely gives one a better sense of contributing to the community than anything you or I ever did in the corporate world. And they tell it like it is. They generally don’t play the politics game that you get at the office.
These young people inspire us to be better people and better teachers.
I have found that even on a “bad” day teaching, it’s nowhere nearly as bad as a day at the office. Sure, there will always be the “headache” student in our lives, but there’s that insatiable challenge of getting through to that child and making a difference.
There will always be that quiet, shy student that will inspire you to find a way to get them to open up and truly shine.
And guaranteed, at least one student will make you laugh each day, one will completely render you speechless with shock and amazement and at least one will make you smile.
i agree, challenge is much better than even the best day in an office job.and you’re right, everyday has some really bright shining moments of humour and sharing.