Dec. 16, 2016
This semester is drawing
to an end. It’s a fact that saddens me
but at the same time, I am so grateful.
I truly love teaching. It’s one
of those things that I never pictured myself doing. For the last year of my Master’s degree,
every time I walked on campus, I heard in my head, “You need to teach
here.” To which I would respond, “Who
me? What do I know about teaching?” So, enjoying teaching and actually being
pretty good at it is my proof that God will equip you to do whatever He calls
you do to. I usually make a couple of
really good connections with students and walking out of class I am usually
energized. In fact, I have mentored
quite a few students. But not so much
the last few semesters.
The last two or three semesters
have been a struggle for me. It’s been
frustrating to see a decline in the quality of students. Of course, there were students who were
interested in learning, who tried hard in their assignments, and who put a
priority on their academics. Generally
speaking, though, test grades have been on a downward trend. The quality of writing in their papers has
also been declining. And I haven’t been
making the usual connections. The
students, for the most part, just came to class, did not participate in class
discussions, and always seemed to have excuses for poor or missing
assignments. I started to wonder if
maybe I am the problem. I would ask
myself, “What’s the common denominator in all the classes?” Me. Maybe
I am not teaching as well. Or maybe my
discouragement was showing too much and I seemed unapproachable or unrelatable. Maybe I just needed a break from teaching.
So, I have been
praying. What would you have me do,
God? Bring me someone to mentor. Show me where you want me. He has answered my prayers in spades! For over a year I have prayed for someone to
mentor and this semester He has brought me some really special
connections. Both of my classes consist
of students who are attentive, alert, and participate in class
discussions. Their essays were
incredible! And their test scores were
well above the previous semesters.
But, more than just their
performance in class, I have been able to connect individually with most of my
students. When I reflect on this semester,
I can’t help but smile with the memories.
Ending the semester as friends is pretty cool. Kelsey said, “You are a weird teacher. You like hang out with your students outside
of class.” Yup, and I love every second
of it!
Heavenly Father, I am
grateful
for you hearing my prayers,
I am learning to be patient,
and that you are really
there.
There are answers I’m
receiving
No, they’re not always
immediate.
Sometimes I have felt defeated,
That’s when I kneeled down
in prayer
You show me you hear my
prayer.
I’m amazed by how you
care.
Cause you hear
My little prayer.
My Little Prayer – David Archuleta
