Expected, Inspected, & Respected.
"We do not learn from experience … we learn from reflecting on experience."
-John Dewey |
"We do not learn from experience … we learn from reflecting on experience."
-John Dewey |
Just so you know up front, Tony Robbins is not my guru. I’m generally skeptical of someone who puts on such a big stage show, has amassed fortunes from his cult-like following, and claims to do it because he just loves to help people. But I could be completely wrong about him. The reason I began this post with Tony Robbins will become clear in a moment. This afternoon in Social Studies class, we were asked to reflect on why we want to be teachers. I was surprised that after all the reflections and reflecting on our reflections that we were required to do during our first term, this was never asked. So when I started thinking about it, I thought about how I hoped this job would meet my needs. Which brings us back to Tony. He says that humans have 6 basic needs: This framework makes a lot of sense to me and my hope is that teaching will fulfill most of these needs. 1) CertaintyThere is certainty in knowing that I will be working from 8:30 to 3:30, Monday to Friday, September to June. The peace of mind that comes with the certainty of a steady income is important too. 2) VarietySchool are chalk full of variety. There are so many different personalities in a classroom and they're changing and growing on a daily basis. There is so much variety in the subject matter and lessons throughout the day and from year to year. 3) SignificanceSignificance is about feeling special, unique, important, or needed. The teaching profession is one of the most significant careers I can think of. As a teacher, you quickly become one of the most important and needed figures in the lives of 20-30 young people. The impact that a teacher can have on the development of a child is definitely significant. 4) Connection/LoveThat impact comes from the connections you forge with your students and the love you have for them and they have for you. I can't think of many other professions in which love and connection are so deeply embedded. Teaching will also enable me to spend time with my daughter because we will have the same holidays for the next 11 years. I'll be able to go on summer vacations with my family just like my parents were able to do with me and my siblings when we were young. 5) GrowthIn my job as an EA, I was starting to feel stagnant and that I could do so much more. I want to constantly challenge myself and keep learning. After earning my BA in 2003, I never thought I would go back to school and if I did have to go back, I would do it grudgingly. But I love being in school again. I'm learning, I'm being challenged, I'm growing, and it's fulfilling because the learning I'm doing feels like it has a purpose and will be put into action. 6) ContributionMaybe it's because I've reached Erik Erikson's 7th stage of psychosocial development but I feel a need to give back and contribute. That's why I started coaching disc golf at West Kildonan Collegiate and ultimately, why I want to be a teacher. Tony Robbins says, "Life is about creating meaning. And meaning does not come from what you get, it comes from what you give." Teaching provides ample opportunites for giving.
0 Comments
|
David Wiebe
|