Why I Left the Classroom Behind...
46% of new teachers don't make it past five years in the profession. Hearing that statistic for the first time, I was determined that it would not happen to me. Here I am, almost five years later and I'm part of the nearly half that don't make it to tenure. Though it is such a disheartening statistic, I don't view it as my downfall.
This is my story of why I left the classroom behind...
Often on a daily basis, I'm asked if I miss teaching. It has become a difficult question for me to answer. It is not black and white. I simply can't answer yes or no. There are so many aspects of the teaching profession that I'm so glad to leave behind. ...and then there are those days that I miss the classroom immensely.
I will never miss the endless mounds of paperwork that teachers are forced to complete on a daily basis. I don't miss the late hours spent grading 60+ papers. I'm not one bit sad to leave behind the stress of lesson plans, test scores, and teacher evaluations.
...but I do miss getting to work math problem out every single day. Seriously, that wasn't a joke. I miss decorating my classroom and the excitement of the first day of school. I miss celebrating with students when they finally understand a math problem and the happiness that spreads across their face. I miss being a mentor, a role model, a friend, and sometimes even a Mom. I long to encourage students, listen to them, and play a part in offering them guidance. I miss giving advice, helping them see their potential and what the world has to offer. I miss my students.
After four years in the classroom, God closed the door. Right in my face. I was blindsided and left with the decision to either pursue another teaching position or to move on. A large portion of last summer was spent job searching and soul searching. The realization started to occur that the classroom wasn't for me.
Being a teacher was four difficult (but also rewarding) years for me. I struggled, I grew, I struggled some more and finally I discovered that I had a different calling. I was in the wrong place. I was called to do something else. I had different dreams to fulfill and God introduced me to my new journey in the form of a pink slip. What seemed like a slap in the face was really just a blessing in disguise. This setback was just a setup for my come back. A come back that was going to place me right where I belonged.
I left the classroom behind because God called me to. God placed a fire in my heart that could not be tamed. I was breathed a new dream that had me impacting the world in a different way. A school teacher was no longer in the plan.
I miss teaching. I miss my students. There are days, I wonder about going back into the classroom. ...and then I'm reminded of the joy I receive in my new field and the new possibilities I have. I am reminded that I can't encourage students to strive to reach their dreams, if I don't do so myself.
I left the classroom behind. Not because I wasn't cut out for the job. Not because of the lack of pay, benefits, or respect that teachers receive. I left the classroom behind because of my students. I want to show them how God takes our passions and weaves dreams into our hearts. I want them to know that they are created for a reason, they must discover it, and then pursue it.
This is my story of why I left the classroom behind...
Often on a daily basis, I'm asked if I miss teaching. It has become a difficult question for me to answer. It is not black and white. I simply can't answer yes or no. There are so many aspects of the teaching profession that I'm so glad to leave behind. ...and then there are those days that I miss the classroom immensely.
I will never miss the endless mounds of paperwork that teachers are forced to complete on a daily basis. I don't miss the late hours spent grading 60+ papers. I'm not one bit sad to leave behind the stress of lesson plans, test scores, and teacher evaluations.
...but I do miss getting to work math problem out every single day. Seriously, that wasn't a joke. I miss decorating my classroom and the excitement of the first day of school. I miss celebrating with students when they finally understand a math problem and the happiness that spreads across their face. I miss being a mentor, a role model, a friend, and sometimes even a Mom. I long to encourage students, listen to them, and play a part in offering them guidance. I miss giving advice, helping them see their potential and what the world has to offer. I miss my students.
After four years in the classroom, God closed the door. Right in my face. I was blindsided and left with the decision to either pursue another teaching position or to move on. A large portion of last summer was spent job searching and soul searching. The realization started to occur that the classroom wasn't for me.
Being a teacher was four difficult (but also rewarding) years for me. I struggled, I grew, I struggled some more and finally I discovered that I had a different calling. I was in the wrong place. I was called to do something else. I had different dreams to fulfill and God introduced me to my new journey in the form of a pink slip. What seemed like a slap in the face was really just a blessing in disguise. This setback was just a setup for my come back. A come back that was going to place me right where I belonged.
I left the classroom behind because God called me to. God placed a fire in my heart that could not be tamed. I was breathed a new dream that had me impacting the world in a different way. A school teacher was no longer in the plan.
I miss teaching. I miss my students. There are days, I wonder about going back into the classroom. ...and then I'm reminded of the joy I receive in my new field and the new possibilities I have. I am reminded that I can't encourage students to strive to reach their dreams, if I don't do so myself.
I left the classroom behind. Not because I wasn't cut out for the job. Not because of the lack of pay, benefits, or respect that teachers receive. I left the classroom behind because of my students. I want to show them how God takes our passions and weaves dreams into our hearts. I want them to know that they are created for a reason, they must discover it, and then pursue it.
These are only a few of the students who touched my heart these last few years. I only hope I impacted them, the same way they did me.
Comments
Post a Comment