It’s been a while
since I’ve posted to the blog. School is
out for summer. This means I’m a new perspective teacher wondering where this
pathway to teaching journey will lead me to next. As I wait, I’m reflecting on encouraging others
and the challenge of staying encouraged.
I met my middle school
principal for lunch over Christmas vacation.
We talked about his recent retirement, my adventures over the past year,
and the student teaching journey that would begin at the start of the new
year. It was the greatest gift of the
season to share the ending (or the
beginning) of a teaching journey with the mentor that inspired me to
teach! As we parted ways, he asked me
when I started student teaching and wished me a Merry Christmas!
On my first morning of
student teaching there was e-mail in my inbox from him. It read, you’ve
got this! In the weeks that
followed my principal’s e-mail, I aimed to let his encouragement win over my
nervousness. Nonetheless, the night
before I officially took the lead as classroom teacher I reached out to faith
mentor asking for last words of wisdom
before I was in charge. He wrote, Just embrace the passionate leader that God has created you to be.
You’ve got this.
My first day of student teaching was a train
wreck. I worried the entire time that my
knees were going to buckle and I was going to fall flat on my face during
lecture. I stumbled on words giving
directions, and froze at the countless number of students who seemed to be yelling,
“Miss Lang so we’re supposed to do what? “ My face was as red as fire truck. I
was overwhelmed and my students knew. Yet, the two mentors I trust most in my
life had promised me that I had this…. They have never met but had used exactly the same phrase of encouragement
as they helped me follow through on a life long goal to impact the world as a teacher. I know the phrase is common but still it got
me thinking. What this did I have? They had given me words of courage and care
that kept me moving in my fearless fight to
teach ---- to beat the odds!
Each week until the
end of student teaching journey I posted a positive quote to my Facebook page
with the hash tag stay inspired! It was
my way of giving to the world the encouragement that I needed as I walked down
this new road in life.
As
the world moves around you be sure to communicate care to others. Allow them to see your compassion for the
challenges they’ve overcome. Give them
the courage that someone else gave to you!
And whatever might be overwhelming you this week YOU’VE GOT THIS!!
