When I entered the teaching field in August 2001, I was told at the First-Year Teachers’ Orientation, that teaching would be the hardest job I’ll ever love. I’ve learned this over the past 2 years. I transitioned from the position of Spanish Language Teacher to an instructor of English as a Second Language. I’ve learned how many facets of the teaching job consists of and how difficult it is to balance such issues as classroom management with achieving your goals in terms of student achievement. I have never struggled so much before, but yet that struggle allows for some piece of fulfillment by the end of the school year, when I see that my students have achieved. Even those to the left of the learning curve have at least learned by the end, what it takes to become a successful student (guidelines to follow for the next year). They have learned the importance of respecting one another and abiding by the rules.
This memory made me think of the most memorable teacher I have ever had: my 9th grade Honors English teacher, Mr. Wilkerson. He was perhaps the most dynamic instructor I have ever encountered. I feel that his constant enthusiasm stemmed from a love for his students and what he taught. His approach was not a traditional one in the classroom. He strove to create authentic extension activities for us; activities which involved daily life tasks and the community. For instance, one activity was to agree to give up television for one whole week. This was a tremendous challenge for me-how could a 14-year-old not watch television? How could I not be prepared to comment on the next episode of Saved by the Bell? We were required to record what tasks or activities we performed during those seven days. At the end, we reviewed our logs and evaluated the effects of this assignment. I found I used my time much more wisely and in turn, ended up utilizing my brain 2-fold, with such novel tasks, as reading the newspaper, writing in a journal, or reading a novel for pleasure. Lack of freedom in front of the "idiot box," as it is often referred to, forced me to become more creative in the way I used my time. In turn, I became a better student because of developed sense of staying on task and managing my time more wisely. Though the task seemed almost impossible and tedious at the time, in the end, it was one of the most beneficial assignments of any in my high school history.
He taught me that hard work and determination pay off in the long run, and that you should connect what you learn with your reality. He also taught me that English Literature does not have to be dry or dramatic Elizabethan dialect. It can mean something to us in our modern society. He demonstrated this through having us translate the antiquated Elizabethan era English to the American vernacular. That and other challenges in his classroom raised my admiration for him. Sadly, he moved to another school one year later. I felt lucky, however, that I had received such an opportunity to be in Mr. Wilkerson’s 9th grade class.
So, thank you to Mr. Wilkerson for showing me the importance of hard work and passion in whatever career you follow. It was because of Mr. Wilkerson, that I know the struggle to teach is a worthwhile pursuit.
-- Praneetha Akula, American University