it may surprise everyone, because i am so suave and sophisticated, and well spoken (written?), and not awkward AT ALL - but i was an incredibly awkward child. i cried before having to do mandatory speeches. i stayed behind in class after making inappropriate comments (before i had yet learned to yield my incredible sense of humour in manageable ways - oy those poor teachers). i dressed like a giant weirdo, i was tall and lanky and had buck teeth and glasses, and in grade 3 before i moved cities, i was likely in danger of never ever being kissed - which, in grade 3, was the worst thing i could ever imagine. the one thing i had going for me, was the complete random luck of being surrounded by incredible teachers. the teacher who introduced me to writing in first grade, when she created opportunities for all of us to write as much as possible - university pen pals, valentines post office letter trades - and specifically, she took me aside, gave me a blank paged book, and told me to write. more than everyone else, she said 'write when you don't know how to talk'. i had a family friend for a teacher in grade 2, who gave indication to my parents that he saw signs of adhd - something that no one said before, and no one ever said after (until i saw it in myself and went to the dr. in 4th year university), and helped me create coping mechanisms to get through school. i had a shy teacher in grade 5 who spent time with me after class to come up with ways to beat my public speaking fears, and ways that she could encourage me to be comfortable talking to them class - starting with presentations in front of 3 people, then 7, then 10, then 15, and so on. a teacher in high school who taught me auto mechanics, and treated me exactly like every other member of the class - though i was the only female. he teased me like anyone else, and he spoke to me about all parts of a car like everyone else. he was the first teacher to not treat me any differently because i was a girl. another teacher who didn't teach me in any specific class, but took me (amongst many) on outdoor canoe trips, and taught me about strength and my love of the outdoors. he also coached me basketball, and taught me that you don't have to be the most talented person on a team, or in a room - you just have to work the hardest. a teacher in university who sat with me for hours, refining thesis statements, and papers, and presentations to arts conferences. who taught me about respect in academia, and respect for myself, my writing, and what i thought i didn't know. who was also the one who said it was ok to be tested for adhd. and no matter what the end results were, i would still be me. and that was a good thing.
these teachers - and many many more of them - changed my life. taught me humility and strength. taught me love and compassion. they taught me that i was me, and that was ok - regardless of who said otherwise. they taught me to read, and write, and read bigger books, and write harder words. they taught me to say what i thought, and think before i said anything. they helped shape me, and helped me carve out my own version of me.
(via)
there's a totally awesome wave of videos, letters, speeches, and all sorts of other things in the media, pointing out how much we have teachers to thank. and today, is world teacher's day. and it's a saturday - so teachers who aren't grading, or on field trips, or at basketball tournaments, have a day with their friends and families to enjoy. i recently read a book about a teacher who is retired and looking for something as fulfilling - he receives multiple letters from former students about what he did for them - and i couldn't help but think about what these teachers have done for me, and what teachers i know are doing for children right now. what a perfect day to reflect on all of this.
i am blessed to be surrounded by tons of friends who are teachers, and i know they are literally changing children's lives. alex, brianne, alicia, dave, helen (to name a VERY small few). they have all made amazing strides to do things for children, above and beyond their 'jobs' as teachers. whether teaching in mexico, on reserves way up north or in areas of toronto who needed more attention. spending time with children to make them feel appreciated, needed, cared about, wanted, and strong. holding those children accountable, and teaching them manners and responsibility that for some, would never have been learned otherwise. they coach teams, and teach lessons, and run choirs and take time where time is needed to give children fun and education all in one place. my friend pete was a teacher before he passed away, and i have seen for the past year, the outpouring of children expressing how much he changed them, in his short time with them. it may seem counterintuitive, but the wonderful and amazing thing about someone passing, is how many people share what that person has meant to them - and as a teacher, he meant so many things to many people, moreso than he probably knew.
i am also surrounded by people who are not teachers by occupation - people who naturally are drawn to sharing knowledge, and understanding how precious teaching, as a gift, is. passing what we know on will never cease to be the most important thing we do for those around us - and the strongest tool we have to create a future that we want to leave behind.
teaching is something we should all be doing - and then, there are those who were put on this earth for the purpose of teaching children as an occupation. so many of them, i'm proud to call my friend.
this is an amazing video - watch it. and then tell your teacher they made a difference.