Daily Moments
Today, I realized two things about who I am and what I do. One: Who I am and what I do really isn’t all that important in the big picture of life. Two: Who I am and what I do are very important in the big picture of life. This all sounds either really self-pitying or self-absorbing, but I really don’t mean it either way.
Let me talk about NOT being all that important in who I am and what I do. I am a teacher. And in the midst of our global pandemic, what I deem as of utmost importance is not. Typically, I care about beautiful sentences, organization, comprehension, communication in all its forms; I care about captivating lesson plans, grading fairly, and providing an interesting classroom climate physically, socially, emotionally, and academically. But when our world collides with an unprecedented enemy, an invisible intruder and everything we thought we knew and understood yesterday holds no truth or power or purpose today, then I realize just how unimportant I am.
Let me talk about why I AM important. Today alone, I had two lengthy conversations with two students. One on the phone, the other through an email. The first student I had for the first time this year; we always had a sort of love/hate relationship. We loved to disagree with each other and somehow rejoiced in academic standoffs. She cried to me, expressing how she “just can’t do any of this anymore.” She can’t learn the way we have been forced to teach right now. She can’t stand that having been an A/B student, she now sees D’s and F’s behind her name. We talk through the situation with her father present and brainstorm solutions. At the end of that conversation, she says, “Thank you so much. I miss you.”
The other student emailed me. I have had this student three times in his high school career. He apologized for being behind on his work, but he says, “This online thing is hard and the family life hasn’t been the easiest either.”
“But” he says, “I really want to graduate.”
I assure him that if he keeps the goal in mind, he can do this, and I will help in any way I can. He replies, “Thank you. It really means a lot to me considering you’ve helped with so much throughout my entire time being at Parker. I will continue working and get it into you asap. Stay safe! Miss you :)”
I may not be important for the reasons I thought I cared about, but I am important for the reasons that those who matter most DO care about — I am glad they know I am more than beautiful sentences, organization, comprehension, communication in all its forms, captivating lesson plans, grading fairly, and providing an interesting classroom climate physically, socially, emotionally, and academically.