"Be the change you want to see in the world." I saw that quote and I thought to myself... "How can I make a difference?" Going into college I randomly chose General Business as my major and after that first semester, I knew it wasn't for me. I came back home and coached my old high school's spring league basketball team and we went undefeated. I felt at home on the sideline, although my team was much better than the others I was really enjoying being there. I had never really thought about becoming a coach or a teacher before but I was always a good student in school and was always the one that everyone copied off of lol. I had always heard about how teachers didn't get paid much, were overworked and so on. Again, I wasn't too sure about what I was going to do. All I knew is that coaching was fun and that I loved being around basketball. I ended up changing my major to Mathematics and although some people thought I was crazy, I graduated four years later.
Two years into teaching, I know that this is my calling. Everyday I go to work knowing that I can make a difference. Regardless of what people think about the money educators make, we are able to change kids lives. I see situations that I could have never imagined growing up in but yet these kids come to school with a smile on their faces. It's astonishing to think about what they do everyday. They go to school for eight hours, go to work for eight hours, go home and do homework, feed their family, sleep, wake up and do it all over again. Although some days are better than others in the classroom, it still amazes me at what they do. It took me being a teacher to realize how much work students put into their lives during those four years of high school.
After I realizing that I make a difference in their lives, I realized something more important. The script flips and I realized that these kids make a difference in my life. I come to work with a smile on my face knowing that I'm about to work a thirteen hour day. Although the hours I work are crazy, I love it. There is nothing better and I honestly believe that. It's the most rewarding feeling knowing that I am the "change" in some of these kids lives. In the classroom, hallway, on the football field, basketball court, track, cafeteria or wherever it may be, I'm making a change and I wouldn't trade this job for anything else.
This is dedicated to all of the educators all over that dedicate their lives being the change. I also dedicate this to my Quitman and Ellison kids...wouldn't trade you for anything else.
Be blessed.
