the heart of a teacher
As a teacher every student who came through my classroom took a small piece of my heart, even those who thought I hated them (I didn’t hate you, I just wanted more for you than you did). I have sat in parent meetings doing everything I can not to cry as I talk with parents about the potential of their student and what is the best path for their students success. I have spent hours taking tests with students outside of class time to try and determine where the break is from the kid who knows all the answers in class discussions to getting the all wrong on the test. (This is the story of many teachers. . . I am not claiming greatness in this) None of this was because I wanted my students to simply be successful students, nope I passionately wanted them know they could succeed.
I taught science for over 15 years. The funny thing about it, was that I never taught science for the sake of science. Yes I Love science, I am super nerdy about it. But my heart to teach wasn’t about students learning science. My heart in teaching has always been that students would learn they could accomplish more than they thought possible, in ways they didn’t think they could, with tasks that seemed impossible to understand. Honestly one of my favorite memories of teaching, is when one of my students came bounding into my classroom and declared: “I HATE science. . . . but I love this class!” My heart delighted because I knew she was learning that she could succeed at anything she set her mind to and worked hard for and she didn’t have to like it.
I had a student in my classroom a few years back who was the life of my class, he was polite, a leader in the class, was an encourager of all his peers, he would often rally the troops to complete a lab or group assignment, this is what he was known for. . . his ability to draw others in, even if he didn’t have all the answers. Let do it together. And when his group came up with the wrong answer he would simple say: “ahhh man, lets do it again.” And they would start over. When we got to the hardest unit of they year he and his classmates were having a hard time memorizing the information needed for the unit test. So he sat with me and brainstormed how everyone could learn the information on the study guide. His plan: he would write and record a rap that included the answer to all 55 questions on the study guide and give it to his classmates. sure enough by the next class we were listening to his study guide rap! I laughed as that class took their test and I could hear him rapping out the study guide. He got his first A on that test, and so did a few of his classmates!
The best part of being a teacher, for me, was everytime a former student stopped by my door to say hi, or tell me of their success in some class they thought was so hard. Just yesterday one of “my boys” told me: “Mrs. Dager guess what my grade in science last quarter was……. A, and not just any A I earned a 98%!” i could have done a happy dance right there! Not because he got an A, I always knew he could. But because he was so proud of his work and he wanted to share it with me! I for a few years I had a couple of boys who would stop by my room every Friday for “Life talks” they would walk in sit at my desk and say: “Ms. Dake what do you think of…..” A few weeks ago one of my students came up to me after Church and let me hug her and remind her that she is loved.
These are the moments a teacher lives for. . . when the Ahhh Haaa moment is not so much an understanding of a specific subject matter or lesson, though that is rewarding, but the understanding that you are valuable and capable of so much more than you know. The moments in which you as the student let me the teacher break through the classroom walls and speak truth into your heart about your identity.
For some students this is a natural and easy relationship to navigate, for others it is near impossible, but know if you have ever sat in my classroom my heart and passion has always been to teach you your identity in Christ. Science, homework, labs, tests, they were all just the tool to set a challenge before you that would open the door for a conversation to build a relationship to direct your towards your creator. So that when you left the safety of my classroom you would know three things:
Who you are in Christ
What you are capable of
When all else failed the door to my classroom and the seat at my desk is always there
I have taught long enough that over the years I have had students; play in the Super Bowl, make movies, start businesses, get married, travel the world, make a public stand for their beliefs, accomplish their dreams, suffer the lose of a loved one, get sick with horrible illnesses, and die in tragic accidents.
At the appropriate times my heart soars with excitement for their accomplishments and a little pride and a great deal of Gratitude fills my heart, that even if they never remember my face or name I was permitted to be part of their journey. But the other side of that coin is the grief and heartache that comes when one of my students is hurting or worse when they die too soon. My heart breaks, for their families, for their friends who I know are lost in the confusion of life without them, and for all the world that would have been changed by their presence. My heart breaks, because a little piece of my heart dies with them.
Then I remember that nothing, absolutely NOTHING in the created universe surprises the CREATOR! For God has numbered our days and he will bring greatness out of the ashes.
4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more,
neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore,
for the former things have passed away.”
Rev. 21:4