Big Teachers Don't Cry

This November will mark 3 years since I've been teaching in the
New York City public school system.

3 years isn't many years at all considering I work with

veteran teachers who have 15+ years of experience under their belt.

If there is one distinct difference between new teachers like me and veteran teachers
is that those who are very experienced don't take things personally.

As a teacher, you have to deal with all sorts of things.

You have to accomodate 25+ students and cater to their unique personalities
and learning styles. You have to be a teacher, care taker, mediator, nurse,
and disinfect-or of desks, chairs, and little hands (list can go on and on).

At the same time you have to accommodate each and every single parent and
cater to what they think is best for their child.

And I absolutely LOVE being able to figure out students and parents, alike.
I love sharing relationships with them.

However, there are moments when my love for all things
teacher and teaching related gets put to the test.

As a teacher,
There are times when someone doesn't agree with my methodologies or views and
when these disagreements do occur, I CAN choose to take it personally.
I CAN cry about it(and I have.... but I'll save that for another entry).
Especially if you are a new teacher(like me) and haven't had
many disagreements in the past- to relate to or have learned from.

However, I've come to realize that I simply CANNOT take everything personally.

As a teacher, there will be times when someone doesn't agree with me,
when I will be questioned about my teaching ways,
and when opinions will be formed about me.

I COULD let all these things affect me but I have learned that I simply can't.
At the end of the day, there is nothing that can make me question just how much
effort, time, and love I've poured into what I do and how I do it.

I guess you can say,
I am becoming bigger and I've learned that
big teachers don't cry.