This isn't a 'how-to' post.
I'm asking.
How do you reinvent yourself?
Maybe
it's just the week I've had. Maybe it's the fact that I lost all my
files at work since January 18 in a computer back-up glitch. Maybe it's
because I received a note from a parent of an 11th grader asking for more time on an project (assigned weeks ago) because of 'homework overload.'
Maybe it's because it is still below-freezing. Day.And.Night. The winter blues.
Maybe it's just because I'm tired.
Maybe that's why I'm asking this question.
This
is nothing new. I've felt this way before - in the winter, in my
teaching career, often at the same time: disgruntled, restless, cranky.
But on days like this, my mind wanders and wonders, 'Is this really what
I should be doing? Maybe I've already peaked. Passed my prime.'
I hate being the snarky, impatient, grumbly teacher who complains. And on most days, I do love my job.
But
today, I just feel tired. Tired of teaching kids who are too lazy to
work, who are bored and disinterested, who give shoddy efforts. Tired of
the silliness, the games, the casual attitudes. Tired of fighting.
Tired of the song-and-dance to get them to pay attention and engage and
turn in their work. Tired of the enormous amounts of energy this all
takes. Tired of pouring out my heart and soul and feeling like it's not
getting through. Or working. They just don't care like I do.
It's draining at best and downright deflating at worst.
I know, they are kids. But they are kids on the cusp of adulthood. Is it too much to ask to see that sometimes?
In
fairness, I have some really remarkable students. Students who make eye
contact and nod and track with me instead of sleeping on their desks.
Students who are diligent and give 100% instead of getting their work
done the period before. Or the next day. Or the next week. Or never.
Student who care. Students who realize this is all about preparing them
for the plans God has for them. I have those students, too. They are my
joy.
The other ones... they aren't bad kids. They are kids.
One-on-one, they are likable, pleasant, respectful. But I wonder if I'm
losing my edge. I wonder if I've been doing this too long. I wonder if
maybe 13 years is all I've got and I should let fresh, young blood take
over.
These are the things I wonder.
So that brings me back to my question: How does one reinvent herself?
I'm not saying I'm walking out of teaching. But sometimes I let my mind wander....what would I do if I weren't teaching? What would I want to do if I weren't teaching?
People make these kinds of changes all the time. What would I do?
There's
a part of me that just feels sorry for myself and wants to whine, 'Why
can't I just have babies and stay at home and write?"
And at the same time, I know that it really isn't about what I want. It's really not. It's about what God wants.
So, I ask the questions:
God,
is this where You want me? Are my feelings selfish, just about my own
comfortability and needing to feel useful? Do You want me to keep doing
what I'm doing as unto You, regardless of their response and the results
I see or don't see?
"How to Reinvent Yourself." I was
writing this post in my head tonight as I was grilling onions and
burgers on the Foreman Grill and scrolling through Twitter at the same
time.
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