The concept of being both a human and an educator is one I’ve grown increasingly concerned about since I had my first child. I’ve always been focused on my job as an educator. Sometimes, I think people assume I’m nuts for being so driven and passionate. I just know it is part of who I am, and, honestly, I don’t want that part of me to go away because I genuinely like it. I am also a mother, and I like that part of who I am, too. I am no less committed to being an educator since becoming a mom. This has been a source of great confusion for me since I learned last winter to expect another child to be born this month. Thus, one of the main things I did this summer was use my time to reflect on the concepts of being both an educator and a human being.
I gave a lot of thought to what keeps me going because I am very realistic about this profession. I mean, let’s face it, the job is hard. The conclusions I drew about what keeps me going were very large scale. I do what I do as an educator because I believe in what public education can do for the citizens of this country. I believe we are all in this together and should all work to make the world a better place.
As I thought about what I wanted to say to other educators at the beginning of the school year, I started to wonder whether anyone else had been able to find this kind of balance. I really do believe most educators want to have a positive impact on the lives of others. However, I questioned the impact of the demands of the profession and the demands of being human, which, let’s face it, are also super hard.
I wish I had the capacity to look every single one of the educators in this country in the face and say, “You are not in this alone. We are all struggling with the demands of the profession and just trying to figure out this experience of being a human. Talk to me. Talk to someone. Find a way to share, whether publicly or privately.”
To read Amanda Koonlaba's ASCD's inservice guest blogger, please click here.
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