Teacher personal thoughts / experiences

I was recently attending a “Celebration of Life” for an old friend. I had two encounters that day that deeply moved me. As a small group of us stood talking, I introduced myself to a middle aged woman that was amongst us. She said that she already knew me and who I was. She said that as a substitute teacher she had been at my school a few times. She went on to say that as a student in our district and then as a young teacher, she had heard so many wonderful things about me. The remarks that she followed up with really made my eyes water. She said, “You don’t know what an incredible impact you had on so many kids. Before I had ever met you, I heard so many great things about you and what you did at your school.” At this time, a young man that I had taught and coached many years before, spoke up. He said, “She’s right, Mr C. I’m not sure if you know this, but I want to tell you something. When I played basketball for you, it was because I wanted to be with my friends, not because I loved the game. I was short and not very good at it. Part way into the season, I told you I was going to quit the team, it just wasn’t for me. You and I had a good talk about it and you told me that I had taken someone else’s spot on the team and had made a commitment to you and to my teammates. You said I was expected to honour that commitment and that if l quit, you would not allow me to play Rugby in the spring season. (I was the Athletic Director so I had a bit of say in those policies). He continued to say, “I stayed on the team, had a good season, and was glad that I honoured my commitment. You taught me a lesson that I have lived by since then-If you start something, finish it, don’t’ let others down by quitting and stick through the tough times”. I have done that in all my endeavors and I know I will pass those lessons on to my young children.” He finished by saying that he was sorry that he had never told me this before now and gave me big hug. We often go about our daily routines as teachers and it is usually sometime in the future that the appreciation is expressed. It is at those times that we are reminded of why we chose that career, to make a difference along the way.