Set the Scene
Many people could and should be thanked for their assistance in my becoming who I am right now in my career, for as Hillary Clinton's book persuades...just as it takes a village to raise a child, so it takes a conglomerate of individuals to build a twenty-nine year career. Thus, the scene is set: time to reflect, ponder, think. If I were awarding those who developed my teacher persona and had to narrow to three, who would I hone in on who have so dramatically affected my life's goal to be a teacher?
Develop Your Thoughts (Previous Thinking v. Current Thoughts)
First, to my high school English teacher Mrs. Smith, my heroine, absolutely without a doubt, I would not be an English teacher had it not been for the example she sat every day of every week. She worked us, holding us to higher expectations than most of us wanted, yet she loved us, and we knew it. With her, I ventured into my first college class, quickly learning that I did NOT want to be a lawyer, as I dove into texts and reflection to write my first college research paper. Perhaps, I learned as much from her disappointment in me as any of my many positive ones. For some time, I was a library aide for her in the elementary. Due to my heavy load of classes and my not-quite-in-love-with-elementary-age kiddos, I asked to not be an aide. For this decision, she used the word disappointed and tore to my student soul. Yet. From this, I learned that I have to be true to me, to my inner voices, who guide and lead, whether through affirmation or frustration, and stand by me, even if I have to stand alone.
Second, to my college instructors Dr. Tebbetts and Dr. Wray...one being the extreme: energized, definitely a sage on the stage of my life; the other: solid, direct, forcing our writing styles to become what they were not. Picture it: Dr. Tebbetts standing on a desktop reading vehemently from whatever text of the week, with passion and fortitude, like no other. Picture it: Dr. Wray's handing back our first essay. The English majors making the lower grades; the basketball/track athletes scoring the higher ones. No fluff, people. Just the facts! Yet. Because of them, I inherited a much more solid literary background, one recognized when I later attended grad school and was told that I must have graduated from Lyon (or some high quality program) because of the caliber of my work. Yes, I stood a little taller! Thank you, Dr. Tebbetts, Dr. Wray...and the late Dr. Oliver.
Third, to my former peer Lisa Huff who shared her love of technology as a tool, which then began the big change in my presentation methods. This blog (and several others) and multiple wikis and now websites are a testament to her. Professionally, I have grown and now freely assist my peers as they take baby steps, steps that, to them, feel like giant leaps at times, all in an endeavor to better prepare all our students for the "real" world or, as the latest jargon encourages, to be "college and career ready." Yet. Mrs. Huff and I did not always agree. What? Her philosophy of education and mine differed. I gaze back now through my 20/20 lens and realize that from those differences...maybe primarily so...I learned me the most. Remember, remember...two do not have to agree to reach the same end in mind. Each just needs to remain true to self and better then teach and reach with passion. (Reread paragraph three for further support!)
Draw Conclusions
Many more names should be mentioned here. Definitely. Maybe I can best be summed up by this quote I recently read in Brad Montague's awesome book Becoming Better Grownups: "Everybody is getting older. That's not an accomplishment. The trick is to get elder." In this all this elderness, please allow me to say: Thirty years from now, you should hardly resemble your first year teacher. Yet. Running through your veins should be a determination to be ever learning and sharing and remaining true to self.
