So, over the course of the evening we heard 2 speakers. Jordan Tinney, deputy superintendent, and George Couros, a visiting administrator from Edmonton and dear friend of the SD36 community. It was a pleasure listening to these 2 educators as they shared their stories of engaging in social media and blogging, mentioning both the dangers and benefits of both. George ended the evening with 2 questions: Why did you become and educator? And what legacy do you want to leave?
The first one seems pretty straight forward to me…I know why I went into teaching. But the 2nd one was surprising to me…never before had I considered the notion of leaving a legacy. And I still am not sure about this question. So let me start with the first question:
I had an amazing Grade 2 teacher, Ms. Mary MacDonald. Honestly, it was so long ago that I am not clear on all the ways in which she was inspiring, but I do know that throughout my elementary years, I always looked up to her. I think she was one of the few teachers that made me feel special and made me feel like she truly cared for me. We made a connection. And so I always had this idea in my head that I wanted to be just like her.
Later, in Grade 7, I had another amazing teacher, Ms. Colette Leisen. I didn’t get to spend that much time with her as she was our Art teacher (so we probably only had her 2 times each week, I am not exactly sure). Anyway, she, too, made her students feel special. And when I was devastated about my first term report card, it was her that comforted me while I cried. Interestingly, my husband (who went to the same elementary school) also cites Leisen as his favourite teacher whom he remembers as the one who opened up his eyes to the world around him. He didn’t just learn about math and art from her, he also learned about life.
So, I knew I wanted to be like these 2 women in some capacity. And I knew that I loved working with children (I was a camp counsellor, babysitter and birthday party planner in high school).
But I think the biggest motivator to become a teacher hit me when I was in Grade 12. My classmates all started talking about future plans: college, travelling, work, etc. And I had no idea what I was going to do! And I don’t think my family did either. I was sailing in unknown territory…the first one in my family to finish high school! What do you do next? Nobody really knew. It was all left for me to figure out. And I did not know what I was supposed to do. There was nobody telling me to apply for college. And so I watched my peers make plans and I sat around waiting with no direction of my own.
I finished grade 12 and got a job. It wasn’t until 2 years later that I went to college. I really had to figure it out for myself. And it was during that process that I realized I wanted to be a teacher so that I could help kids like me that weren’t pushed at home. Kids like me who had wonderful parents, but parents that didn’t really know how to guide thier children because they didn’t have the experience themselves. I would be a teacher and help high school students find their passion and figure out what they wanted to do with their lives.
Well, it turns out I ended up teaching elementary school and not secondary, but I think my why is still the same. I help children figure things out about themselves, I share my story and I encourage them to follow their passion, regardless of their family circumstances.
