Teach Hard Or Go Home
by Anna Walters
Now that my masters is just an arms reach away I have been thinking about what the next stop is for me. As every educator knows, learning does not ever stop for us when we leave our college campus. How can it when there are always new and engaging ways to teach something to a room full of eager (or reluctant) students. How can we stop learning when every year there is a new piece of technology that will go excellent with the unit that is being taught in science class? Who wants a stagnant teacher that teaches the same way every year and does not take in the consideration of the students in the classroom? Educators must still continue to learn. I must still continue to learn. Yet, what are my plans to make sure that I keep growing as a professional in a field that is constantly changing and adapting to their “clients” needs. Well, for me, I liken my plans for the future of my education to the Triathlons I participate in every summer.
The first leg in a triathlon is the swimming leg. Now, I use to swim in high school, so this leg, to me, is the one I have the less worries about. For one thing, it is the first of three in the race and I am fresh and ready to go. My body is not tired but energized. For another, I actually swam competitively, so I feel I have at least some skill in this area. However, as I wait for my wave to go in the water, I get a little anxious and not so positive thoughts start penetrating my mind. Am I going to be able to do all three legs? What was I thinking getting myself into this? Look at that lady in front of me with the triathlon gear on; she looks like a beast! There is no way I can compete with her. Yes, doubts run through my mind before I enter that water but then I take a deep breath and as I inch closer to the (usually) cold and icky water I start to get excited and anticipate a good race. I also look forward to crossing the finish line and that wave of emotion that courses through my body because I accomplished something that not a lot of people try to do. Yes, this is the leg that starts the race off and even though I am afraid of failing I keep the finish line in sight.
The swimming leg, for me, is when I start teaching. Whether it is my first year or fifth year, at the beginning of the year I may start feeling anxious and worried that I will not handle the group of students or the demands that are asked of me. This is the time when I have to get familiar with the curriculum and with my teaching partners—the staff of the building. Yet, just like swimming, this is the “leg” of teaching that I have less worries about. It is the exciting part—the beginning. Getting to know my colleagues, getting to know my students, and even more exciting, becoming familiar with the units I will need to teach. Sure, there will be worries and doubts but once I enter the water a feeling of calm washes over me. I am in control and the first step I need to do to continue my education is to know that I can learn and accomplish tasks that may seem too hard. I need to have confidence in me and my capabilities as a teacher and learner.
Now, let me tell you. The next leg of a triathlon is, by far, the hardest for me. It may be because I have a mountain bike when almost everyone else has road bikes or it could just be that my legs are weak. Whichever is the case, this leg is grueling and painful. What makes it even harder is that, in most races, Ipods are not allowed. So, there is no music to distract me from the pain piercing through my legs or the long stretches of open road. Just me, my heavy bike, and the racers that pass me by to keep me company during this leg. Now, I can coast and not really put any effort into this leg. After all, biking is my weakest area. When I see a hill coming up (and EVERY hill looks huge), I could get off my bike and walk it up, then coast down the hill and let the breeze cool me off. However, why would I do that? If this is my weakest, then I need to push harder and make it my strongest. Why do these races if I am not going to do my best in every leg?
The biking leg is when I start diving deeper into what I need to teach and not only start adding the meat and potatoes to the meal that I am serving to my students but the seasoning and spices to go along with it. This is the time when I am offered chances to go to workshops and seminars and I go to them, not with the attitude, “oh, not another thing I have to remember” but with the excitement that I will walk away with something to spark the interest of my students so they can learn and be successful. This is the leg that I will get the majority of my future learning achieved. There will be hills during this time, when I have so much on my plate I can not fathom the thought of peddling through more stuff but I know it will all pay off in the end. This is the time when I actually see what I am made of and see if I am strong enough to keep pushing myself to try harder and go faster. Sure, I can coast through teaching and do the bare minimum but what is the point of that? I did not get into the teaching race to just bike casually, I entered this field because I want to push myself so every one of my students leave my classroom with the skills they need to pull ahead in their own race. So, the second step I need to do to continue my learning is to have the ambition and passion to learn new things. Why teach if I don’t have the passion?
What can I say about the running leg? It’s not calming like the swimming leg but it is not brutal like the biking. It is the last leg. So, it’s got that going for it. The end is in sight but does the race ever actually end? No, there will be another. What makes the running hard is the fact that it is the last leg and I have just completed ¼ mile swim and a 13 mile bike. I am tired. I am exhausted. What pushes me to run my best? What pushes me to keep running at all? The other competitors in the race. That is what pushes me to keep going and not to be a (gasp) walker. Maybe I see the intimidating lady in the beginning, just up ahead, and I think to myself, “I have kept up with her,” and that keeps me pushing. Maybe I start running along another racer that keeps me going at my pace and we cheer each other on and push each other to go a little faster, push a little harder. Because there is one thing I learned in these triathlons, everyone supports each other. There are no negative words but just words that build you up and keep you going. If one runner is having a hard time all you hear is, “you can do it! Keep going.” You gain a feeling of camaraderie and friendship with these crazy people that chose to do this race even when they know it is brutal, painful, and not only physically exhausting but mentally exhausting too. The rewards of the race far surpass any pain that may be created during the race.
Yes, the running leg of the race is when I start developing professional relationships with my colleagues and even run away with some friendships. My colleagues know what it is like; they are there for me to help me along my way, as I am there for them. However, just like in the race, I need someone to run beside me that will cheer me on, push me, and offer me positive encouragement. I can not run along side someone that does not push me or is only filled with the negative thoughts of teaching. Yeah, teaching is hard, just like triathlons, but I do it because I love it and I don’t want my passion to burn out because of negativity. I also need to align my self with colleagues that are always looking to improve and learn. That is how I will continue to grow and learn is through colleagues that share the same interests and passion I do for teaching and learning. I look forward to hearing what others are doing and I want them to show me anything new they have learned. Just as I love impressing them with the things I know. Teaching is fun and exciting and when you teach along side colleagues that are filled with the same desire to learn it makes it more worthwhile in the end.
I do not enter triathlons to just coast along and to just sound impressive when I tell others, “Yeah, I do triathlons.” I did not enter the teaching field for the same reason. I want to be one of the best and I do not want to just coast along and wait for breaks. To be the best I know I need to have the confidence to try new things. I need to continue to have the passion for learning. I also need to make sure I surround myself with the colleagues that will push me to be the best. These are the three goals I have for my future. I will continue to swim, bike, and run through the school year and I will continue to learn.
The first leg in a triathlon is the swimming leg. Now, I use to swim in high school, so this leg, to me, is the one I have the less worries about. For one thing, it is the first of three in the race and I am fresh and ready to go. My body is not tired but energized. For another, I actually swam competitively, so I feel I have at least some skill in this area. However, as I wait for my wave to go in the water, I get a little anxious and not so positive thoughts start penetrating my mind. Am I going to be able to do all three legs? What was I thinking getting myself into this? Look at that lady in front of me with the triathlon gear on; she looks like a beast! There is no way I can compete with her. Yes, doubts run through my mind before I enter that water but then I take a deep breath and as I inch closer to the (usually) cold and icky water I start to get excited and anticipate a good race. I also look forward to crossing the finish line and that wave of emotion that courses through my body because I accomplished something that not a lot of people try to do. Yes, this is the leg that starts the race off and even though I am afraid of failing I keep the finish line in sight.
The swimming leg, for me, is when I start teaching. Whether it is my first year or fifth year, at the beginning of the year I may start feeling anxious and worried that I will not handle the group of students or the demands that are asked of me. This is the time when I have to get familiar with the curriculum and with my teaching partners—the staff of the building. Yet, just like swimming, this is the “leg” of teaching that I have less worries about. It is the exciting part—the beginning. Getting to know my colleagues, getting to know my students, and even more exciting, becoming familiar with the units I will need to teach. Sure, there will be worries and doubts but once I enter the water a feeling of calm washes over me. I am in control and the first step I need to do to continue my education is to know that I can learn and accomplish tasks that may seem too hard. I need to have confidence in me and my capabilities as a teacher and learner.
Now, let me tell you. The next leg of a triathlon is, by far, the hardest for me. It may be because I have a mountain bike when almost everyone else has road bikes or it could just be that my legs are weak. Whichever is the case, this leg is grueling and painful. What makes it even harder is that, in most races, Ipods are not allowed. So, there is no music to distract me from the pain piercing through my legs or the long stretches of open road. Just me, my heavy bike, and the racers that pass me by to keep me company during this leg. Now, I can coast and not really put any effort into this leg. After all, biking is my weakest area. When I see a hill coming up (and EVERY hill looks huge), I could get off my bike and walk it up, then coast down the hill and let the breeze cool me off. However, why would I do that? If this is my weakest, then I need to push harder and make it my strongest. Why do these races if I am not going to do my best in every leg?
The biking leg is when I start diving deeper into what I need to teach and not only start adding the meat and potatoes to the meal that I am serving to my students but the seasoning and spices to go along with it. This is the time when I am offered chances to go to workshops and seminars and I go to them, not with the attitude, “oh, not another thing I have to remember” but with the excitement that I will walk away with something to spark the interest of my students so they can learn and be successful. This is the leg that I will get the majority of my future learning achieved. There will be hills during this time, when I have so much on my plate I can not fathom the thought of peddling through more stuff but I know it will all pay off in the end. This is the time when I actually see what I am made of and see if I am strong enough to keep pushing myself to try harder and go faster. Sure, I can coast through teaching and do the bare minimum but what is the point of that? I did not get into the teaching race to just bike casually, I entered this field because I want to push myself so every one of my students leave my classroom with the skills they need to pull ahead in their own race. So, the second step I need to do to continue my learning is to have the ambition and passion to learn new things. Why teach if I don’t have the passion?
What can I say about the running leg? It’s not calming like the swimming leg but it is not brutal like the biking. It is the last leg. So, it’s got that going for it. The end is in sight but does the race ever actually end? No, there will be another. What makes the running hard is the fact that it is the last leg and I have just completed ¼ mile swim and a 13 mile bike. I am tired. I am exhausted. What pushes me to run my best? What pushes me to keep running at all? The other competitors in the race. That is what pushes me to keep going and not to be a (gasp) walker. Maybe I see the intimidating lady in the beginning, just up ahead, and I think to myself, “I have kept up with her,” and that keeps me pushing. Maybe I start running along another racer that keeps me going at my pace and we cheer each other on and push each other to go a little faster, push a little harder. Because there is one thing I learned in these triathlons, everyone supports each other. There are no negative words but just words that build you up and keep you going. If one runner is having a hard time all you hear is, “you can do it! Keep going.” You gain a feeling of camaraderie and friendship with these crazy people that chose to do this race even when they know it is brutal, painful, and not only physically exhausting but mentally exhausting too. The rewards of the race far surpass any pain that may be created during the race.
Yes, the running leg of the race is when I start developing professional relationships with my colleagues and even run away with some friendships. My colleagues know what it is like; they are there for me to help me along my way, as I am there for them. However, just like in the race, I need someone to run beside me that will cheer me on, push me, and offer me positive encouragement. I can not run along side someone that does not push me or is only filled with the negative thoughts of teaching. Yeah, teaching is hard, just like triathlons, but I do it because I love it and I don’t want my passion to burn out because of negativity. I also need to align my self with colleagues that are always looking to improve and learn. That is how I will continue to grow and learn is through colleagues that share the same interests and passion I do for teaching and learning. I look forward to hearing what others are doing and I want them to show me anything new they have learned. Just as I love impressing them with the things I know. Teaching is fun and exciting and when you teach along side colleagues that are filled with the same desire to learn it makes it more worthwhile in the end.
I do not enter triathlons to just coast along and to just sound impressive when I tell others, “Yeah, I do triathlons.” I did not enter the teaching field for the same reason. I want to be one of the best and I do not want to just coast along and wait for breaks. To be the best I know I need to have the confidence to try new things. I need to continue to have the passion for learning. I also need to make sure I surround myself with the colleagues that will push me to be the best. These are the three goals I have for my future. I will continue to swim, bike, and run through the school year and I will continue to learn.