Tough year to Teach

 As happens during the holiday season, I was eating with a friend I have not seen in a while. He said, “This must be a really tough year to be a teacher. I bet it had you thinking about retiring.” His comment made me reflect on this past year as a teacher. Here are a few of my thoughts. 

A few months ago, a former student who really underachieved in high school wrote me a letter. This student had many personal and family issues that prevented them from focusing on school. However, when they were able to focus, they produced excellent work. Life seemed to settle down in college, and they wrote me to tell me that they were graduating and had been hired for their dream job.  

More recently, a parent wrote me a letter updating on how well all her children were doing. Her oldest had used me as a role model, she said, and he is now mentoring underprivileged students. It was gratifying to think of myself as a role model and great to hear that I could have had some impact on her kids. 

The crazy part is, I think my students have helped me more that I can ever help them. Reading their posts and blogs on social justice.  Watching them navigate their jobs from home while they are raising there kids.   It is inspiring to see what they are accomplishing as they continue in many ways to make the world a better place. 

My friend was right, this has been a difficult year to be a teacher, student, or parent. I am going to choose, however, to remember the positive things that happened this year to continue to inspire me to do the best job possible. 

In 2020, what good things happened to you?