Thursday, June 23, 2011
A humbling silence
I am an educator who needs to listen. The anxiety and excitement that goes with starting a new program in a new place with new people has left me in a vulnerable place that I hope to never forget; because the only option I feel I have is to stop and listen to who and what is around me. May I never forget this lesson throughout my career in education, as even in my most confident moments, the unknown will always exist.
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Anna, I think you draw a great parallel between the overwheming-ness of our new school life and the overwhelming-ness of school for many young students. I think you're right that reminding ourselves of how we feel facing the unknown can help us empathize with the struggles and joys of our students' learning. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with both Anna and Paige. On the one hand it feels great to be challenged and stimulated by the content of the program I have just begun, but the unknown can also feel daunting. Will I make it? Will my thought processes and work be good enough? Will I become a great teacher one day? All of these thoughts race through my head and I am reminded of how wonderful and overwhelming it can be to be a student. I appreciate this reminder as I soon will sit on the other side of the table when I have a classroom of my own.
ReplyDeleteIt is as if we are the kindergardners (sp?) on the first day of school, not exactly knowing what's going to happen. It reminds me of walking in to my first day of school, butterflies in my stomach, anxious, excited and scared all at the same time. I am sure these feelings will be revisited again and again each first day of school. But knowing that we as teachers are experiencing the same emotions as the students does put us at a level that is more equalizing.
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