6 Truths About Working In Education

Working in education has been a huge rollercoaster for me. There have been so many emotions over the years between so many situations but one thing is always for certain. I wouldn’t give up education for anything. Being that the job I currently have was my first time working in education every year after that was filled with meaningful lessons in addition to a lot of clarity.

Teaching Is Tough

You’ll find yourself just as perplexed as your students at times. It’s so overwhelmingly beautiful when your kiddos catch on to something new within the first few days of it being implemented. There’s this sense of pride and absolute joy. However, there are some kids that will take even longer to catch on to things that others have mastered at the speed of light. It doesn’t make you any less proud though because you know that no matter how frustrating it feels your students will always make a way. Anything is possible through our patience and determination with some of our favorite humans.

You’ll Feel Like A Failure

It’s imperative to understand that sometimes things happen. As much as it hurts things will always get better and we can only hope the same for our kids. Whether you feel you’ve failed a child in academics or in or ways there is always a lesson to be learned. Failure is not representative to the end. We blossom from failure no matter the pain. We learn. So, in the very end of all of it when you rest your frustrated head down and the tears hit the pillow every single mistake you made for your students was worth it because you know now what works and what doesn’t. The beauty of education is if at first you don’t succeed you truly have so many chances to try again.

Sometimes Mental Health Days Are Necessary

As hard as it is to admit, sometimes we burn out and it will always feel like it is at the wrong time. Working in education means you rarely have time for yourself. Sometimes work comes home. Many times, you promise yourself you won’t bring the stresses of the day home. Yet, somehow you find your tears uniting with your bowl of ice cream while you think about how to get that struggling kiddo back on track. A lot of times we as educators are held to such a high standard when it comes to being okay all the time. As cool as it sounds to be a superhero this notion is more than impossible. It is more than okay to take a day to get your mind right. Read a book, visit your favorite coffee shop, go on a nature walk. Take a day to yourself and do all of the things you love. All pleasure, no business.

You Will Be Broke and It Will Be Worth Every Penny

Every single teacher knows exactly what I’m talking about. A lot of times we as school staff are being resorted to buying or own supplies, craft materials, and even curriculum. It’s kind of a sad truth that such things aren’t always provided, however, there really is this sense of happiness I get every time I buy something new for the classroom. The look on my kids' faces when sometime fun and new is introduced is something that will absolutely never get old.

Title Does Not Determine Importance

Education sometimes fails to understand that the lack of appreciation we have for other school staff can be motivation killer. Nobody, and I can’t stress this enough, is more important than any other school staff. You should always treat everyone from the janitor to the superintendent with the same amount of respect. We are all here in one way or another to keep these tiny humans in an environment that is safe and fun for their brain to learn. It doesn’t make much sense to put a whole group down on the basis of their degrees or lack thereof. Respect and unity are crucial in education. We graduated high school long ago.

You Will Do Anything for Your Students

A good teacher does their best at building a strong rapport with all of their students. Every single one. It can be tough learning the habits and personalities of so many different kiddos but it is imperative. At the end of the day we do all we can and would go to the ends of the Earth to make sure these kids will make their future so bright. I would jump in front of a bullet to save my kids. Working in education has taught me there is so much more to the world than the trivia things I used to lose my mind over. It’s my kids over anything.

Always remember that we are the future of these.