This weekend, my stake had a mini mission. Ben and I participated as host families, and let me just tell you, it was A.W.E.S.O.M.E.
Um, did you know that the youth today are amazing? I knew it because I teach them every Sunday and because my sisters are amazing. But truly, they are amazing. When I was in young women's, would I have jumped at the chance to dress up all weekend and teach lessons as mini-missionaries to less active members or non members? I honestly don't know. The wanna-be-awesome part of me says heck to the yes. The realistic part of me says I probably would have done it, but it might have been grudgingly, and very scaredily (yes, I just made up that word).
The youth (14 and up) were assigned companions and assigned a host family. My family was out of town this weekend, so Ben and I signed up because we wanted to, not because my parents wanted to host the mini missionaries. We made them dinner Friday night, took them to an appointment, talked to them about teaching and the gospel and stuff, went to bed, woke up and made them breakfast (Ben exercised and made sure the girls exercised because that was part of the mini mission, but I didn't feel well, so I stayed in bed until they were done exercising), had gospel study, went to another lesson, went to a baptism, and then that was the end of our part. The youth then went to lunch and classes in the afternoon.
I can't even describe how incredible this weekend was. We felt the spirit so strongly, and it was great to be doing this service. For both appointments, the girls followed the spirit as to what message they shared with the people, and both lessons were very spiritual, and I could tell that both the lessons were exactly what the people needed to hear. Like I said, I can't even describe it. I was very impressed with their level of gospel knowledge, and I was impressed with their ability to just go teach a lesson to people they didn't even know very well. Actually, I was more impressed with their ability to teach a lesson to two kids who they know from school who the ward mission leader set an appointment with for them. That would be even more scary to teach someone their own age who goes to their school.
Being with the youth and sharing the message of the gospel was exactly what I needed this weekend.
And so was fast Sunday and testimony meeting.
I hope everyone is having a great Sabbath!
Ben and Kilee
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Friday, April 5, 2013
Being a Teacher
Wow. Who knew that teaching could be both the hardest and most rewarding thing in life?
Well, I figured so, that's why I chose this profession. But I didn't know quite how hard it would be.
This is how hard it is: sometimes, I imagine myself getting in a car crash on my way to school. So I don't have to go to school.. Is that weird?
This is how rewarding it is: the feeling you get when you find out that you are someone's favorite teacher. Or the feeling you get when a student finally makes sense of what you are trying to teach him/her. Or the feeling you get when the students make something so awesome that they are dying to take one (muffin/cookie/etc) to another teacher because they are so proud. Or when the students beg me to ask if I can chaperone at prom. Or when the students get all mad and insist that I should fake sick for my brother's wedding so I can come to their graduation. Or the student who I asked how her day was going, and she almost started crying and spilled everything out. Or the student who has lots of family struggles and comes to talk to me all the time because I care. Yes, teaching is very rewarding.
I have one student who apparently only talks to me. I am the only teacher he likes. I feel like that is quite the victory. One day, he drew me a picture (granted, it was on the paper he was taking notes on, and his notes consisted of the few words he wrote every time I walked by. but he left the drawing on his desk with a note that said "here you go, Luthi." attitude, yes. but does he do anything for anyone else? no). As time goes on, he talks to me more and more. Even though he is kind of a punk, he totally secretly likes me, as other teachers have confirmed.
Starting out was rough. I can't even imagine what it must feel like to have one of your favorite teachers ripped away from you, only to have her replaced by a teacher who doesn't look much older than you and is a "sub." I didn't get a lot of respect at first because I am young (and word got out that I just graduated college and this is my first teaching job). Another reason I didn't get much respect is because I wasn't their teacher from the start. I also had students dislike me because I am tougher than their previous teacher.
However, I have earned that respect. I have had students tell me that while I am tougher, they have learned more from me than her. I still have students who get onto me for not being able to take a joke (I can take a joke, but some "jokes" I don't appreciate). And I still have students who do everything they can to push my buttons, but overall, things are going really well. I have teacher-friends. The principals like me (they keep telling me I am doing great, and I was congratulated for sending a girl to the office for dress code whom the other teachers rarely send because they don't want to deal with her). I am figuring things out. I am having a much easier time balancing the lesson planning, grading, fccla, and whatever else I have been doing.
The job officially opened up for applications this week! So, needless to say, I will be applying. The principal really wants me (or so I have heard), so that is a good sign..
Well, I figured so, that's why I chose this profession. But I didn't know quite how hard it would be.
This is how hard it is: sometimes, I imagine myself getting in a car crash on my way to school. So I don't have to go to school.. Is that weird?
This is how rewarding it is: the feeling you get when you find out that you are someone's favorite teacher. Or the feeling you get when a student finally makes sense of what you are trying to teach him/her. Or the feeling you get when the students make something so awesome that they are dying to take one (muffin/cookie/etc) to another teacher because they are so proud. Or when the students beg me to ask if I can chaperone at prom. Or when the students get all mad and insist that I should fake sick for my brother's wedding so I can come to their graduation. Or the student who I asked how her day was going, and she almost started crying and spilled everything out. Or the student who has lots of family struggles and comes to talk to me all the time because I care. Yes, teaching is very rewarding.
I have one student who apparently only talks to me. I am the only teacher he likes. I feel like that is quite the victory. One day, he drew me a picture (granted, it was on the paper he was taking notes on, and his notes consisted of the few words he wrote every time I walked by. but he left the drawing on his desk with a note that said "here you go, Luthi." attitude, yes. but does he do anything for anyone else? no). As time goes on, he talks to me more and more. Even though he is kind of a punk, he totally secretly likes me, as other teachers have confirmed.
Starting out was rough. I can't even imagine what it must feel like to have one of your favorite teachers ripped away from you, only to have her replaced by a teacher who doesn't look much older than you and is a "sub." I didn't get a lot of respect at first because I am young (and word got out that I just graduated college and this is my first teaching job). Another reason I didn't get much respect is because I wasn't their teacher from the start. I also had students dislike me because I am tougher than their previous teacher.
However, I have earned that respect. I have had students tell me that while I am tougher, they have learned more from me than her. I still have students who get onto me for not being able to take a joke (I can take a joke, but some "jokes" I don't appreciate). And I still have students who do everything they can to push my buttons, but overall, things are going really well. I have teacher-friends. The principals like me (they keep telling me I am doing great, and I was congratulated for sending a girl to the office for dress code whom the other teachers rarely send because they don't want to deal with her). I am figuring things out. I am having a much easier time balancing the lesson planning, grading, fccla, and whatever else I have been doing.
The job officially opened up for applications this week! So, needless to say, I will be applying. The principal really wants me (or so I have heard), so that is a good sign..
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)