#majorfail!
I forgot to tell you that Anita's release tour continues today at Matthew Rush's The QQQE.
On the first day of Education class this semester, my prof asked us all to introduce ourselves and tell what our career plans are. I like to be one of the first people to go because I hate the feeling of sitting there looking at all the other people who have not done their introductions and playing eye-chicken to see who has to go next.
I forgot to tell you that Anita's release tour continues today at Matthew Rush's The QQQE.
On the first day of Education class this semester, my prof asked us all to introduce ourselves and tell what our career plans are. I like to be one of the first people to go because I hate the feeling of sitting there looking at all the other people who have not done their introductions and playing eye-chicken to see who has to go next.
So, yeah, I went, like, third. Here's what I said:
"I am a writer. But I am going into Secondary Ed: English in case I don't write a good enough novel."
Alright. I play off my insecurities by utilizing a blase attitude. I'm a guy after all - it's what we do. But the look on my profs face killed me inside a little. I am not sure if he was more offended that I thought I thought couldn't write a good novel or that I was going into Ed as a fall back. Whatever the case, I hate that I say things that do not take ownership for my real feelings. If I had been there that first day, really been there, I would have said,
"I am going into Education because I am a writer for teens and children and I look forward to being able to connect with youngster in other ways. I want to teach The Absolutely True Story of a Part-Time Indian and I want to watch students teach each other about what it means to be gay, Hispanic, short, tall, White, lonely, high-spirited......different and the same."
My personal teaching philosophy is rather progressive, with shreds of essentialism and existentialism in there. I will be at the students side and they will teach me as much as I teach them, perhaps more.
If I had been truly speaking from the heart, I would have made it obvious that I am quite passionate about the prospect of becoming a teacher. I am full of missed opportunities, so I have had to make up for that nonchalant statement through my work since that very first day. Perhaps it was meant to be.
I love both reasons why you want to be a teacher. The one you said aloud and the eloquent paragraph you wrote. I think you are going to make excellent teacher. (I already know you are a great writer)
ReplyDeleteI can tell you're a writer by the way you want to go back and edit yourself. ;)
ReplyDeleteYou'll make a great teacher, too. Luckily, writing and teaching are not mutually exclusive. :)
Thank you for sharing your reasons for wanting to be a teacher. It think it is great that you want to share the joy of books with your future students.
ReplyDeleteTeaching what you love to do might be a fall back - but a wise one! Not everyone makes enough money in this industry to do it full time. You are wise!
ReplyDeleteAll we can do is try to live as honestly as we know how. I know I have had countless situations like this. I just try to remember them when I struggle to be truely myself the next time round.
ReplyDeleteYour answers, either one, are still you. One is just truncated.
You know what, Jon? You said it. Right now. And you said it to a far bigger audience! That was beautiful! :-)
ReplyDeleteI hope your career in education is a fulfilling experience for you.
ReplyDeleteJon, you are just the best. I'm full of missed opportunities, but I'm glad you took THIS opportunity to share with the world how you REALLY feel about being an ED major. Rock on!
ReplyDeleteI can totally relate. I'm also a YA writer and I'm in my final year of a secondary Education degree for English. I hope your career is a great experience to you.
ReplyDeleteI love how you can actually put in words what you were feeling. Do you think you could make my thoughts sound as good? Your excitement and passion for writing inspires me. Oh, thanks for making laugh about "playing eye-chicken". I am storing that one for later use. :o)
ReplyDelete-Raina
I can't wait for you to become a teacher, Jon! For the same reason I work to earn my stripes as a librarian, you strive for kids to realize, through books, that they aren't the only ones on the planet to experience life's trials or ask the same questions of their surroundings. We are passionate so that reading will become a pathway for young people to grow and learn more about themselves through words.
ReplyDeleteI want you to be my teacher! P.S. I like the shoe.
ReplyDelete