Feeling Loved

Teaching is rough. There have been many days when the final bell has rung and I’ve sat at my desk asking myself “why am I doing this to myself?” Today I got a wonderful reminder of why I love teaching. 

Today was the first day after I officially announced that I was not going to be teaching next year, and the response of the students was amazing. Here are a few of the best things I heard today: 

“Your room is the only one I actually learn something in”

“But I actually understand biology when you teach it”

“You’re coming back, right?”

“You are a role model”

“I hate that you’re leaving, but I really respect what you’re doing”

“I’m going to hunt you down and bring you back”  

To hear that I have actually had some sort of impact on these kids’ lives makes me feel like I haven’t completely wasted the last 5 years of my life. I love biology, and all I’ve ever wanted to do is inspire others to see the beauty of the natural world. Unfortunately teaching in a public school in America is more about jumping through political and administrative hoops and teaching kids to take tests rather than helping them learn how to think critically and learn to love exploring and gaining knowledge. To hear that I was able to instill some level of interest in these kids despite all the hurdles of our public education system was just fantastic. 

The kids are the only thing about Indiana that I am really going to miss. I’ve never wanted kids of my own (too much responsibility, babies are the worst), but I absolutely love getting to interact with young people. Before they become adults, people have unlimited potential. Seeing open-minded individuals absorb new information and develop novel ways of thinking absolutely blows my mind. Most adult minds are too fixed and unwilling to consider new knowledge. Getting to spend each day being a part of the growing process with these kids has truly been a gift. I've enjoyed getting to know each of my students and helping them learn more than just a list of facts for a test. I've likewise enjoyed learning from them. I honestly can say that I will miss each and every one of the kids, even those who I’ve had three years in a row because they refuse to turn in any assignments :) 

Many of the kids seemed shocked that I was leaving Indiana, as if the idea of getting out of the state was terrifying in some way, and to them I hope I serve as an inspiration. I hope everyone gets an opportunity to get out and explore the rest of the world, because there is so much more to see. There’s nothing wrong with deciding that Indiana is the place for you and spending your entire life there, but I hope everyone at least gets a chance to see other options. You never know what you’ll love until you go out and try new things. No matter what, I wish that all my kids find what makes them happy and live the lives they’ve always imagined (and don’t wait until you’re 28 to do what you love!). 

The best kind of people :)