I started this entry a long while ago, but I kept losing my motivation to post it (and my more recent post will try to explain why). I finally decided that it’s getting ridiculous and I need to just put it out there for all of cyberworld to see…before I change my mind again:
It can get quite hard to be in a job like this and not get bogged down by all of the negative energy floating throughout the school – with the students, the frustrated administration and staff, and the stress of keeping enrollment numbers up enough to pass state requirements. So it’s understandable that I would also get sucked into these feelings of frustration and anxiety, and there are definitely many a time where I throw my arms up in defeat because I can’t think of anything else to do. I am reaching a high point of stress myself, as my sixth and eighth graders are rebelling against me, I can’t get my first graders to sit still long enough to learn, and my third and fourth graders are incredibly needy about totally non-music related subjects (like going to the bathroom). However, no matter how horrible certain parts of my day were, I almost always leave with a smile. Why, you ask? Here are a few reasons.
1. These kids are tested until their brains hurt on a daily basis. As resistant as they are to taking a “specials” class seriously, they will eventually come to appreciate the chance to be creative and express their genuine selves.
2. I’m teaching more than just music – I’m teaching these kids how to be people who can not just function but thrive once they leave for the real world.
3. I know that the more obstacles we face together right now, the more fulfilling it will be to finally find success.
4. What I don’t think a lot of people realize is that these are just kids – they are still growing, learning, and should be forgiven and offered the chance to prove themselves even after they falter.
5. If I do nothing else right during the day, I can at least offer a hug to someone who may not feel a whole lot of love throughout the rest of his or her day.
6. These kids are used to people leaving their lives on a regular basis, both in and outside of school. Every day that they see me come back further proves that I’m not just part of the trend.
7. There will always be some teacher who’s around to fill a typical music position at a public or private school. In this case, however, there are so few teachers that would dare to apply, much less take the job.
8. No matter how much I go through in a day, nothing can compare to what my kids have to endure in their everyday lives.
9. I love the opportunity to give my students the kind of voice some of them never even knew they had.
10. If I don’t fight to give these children the gift of music education, who will?
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