FOHNER FAMILY: February 2010

Thursday, February 25, 2010

It's Moments Like That Remind Me of Why I'm a Teacher

Three ago this young man was a freshman in my Fitness for Life Class at Lingnore High.

Before you watch the video on this awesome kid, read below...

Sometimes you doubt your career choices. I know every teacher, at least, has been here at one point. One class walks out your door & you sit down for a minute & wonder how you're going to make it through the next class (let alone the rest of the day or week) without completely flipping out. You're so tired of the disrepect, the back-talk, the parents who curse you out because it's somehow your fault their kid doesn't behave in your class, & all the other multiple problems that turn up each day. Those of you who know me well have heard a story or two...if you haven't, I'll gladly share one that will drop your jaw or have you rolling on the floor laughing.

But then that certain kid walks through the door & you realize that you teach for kids like this. The ones that write you letters during Teacher Appreciation Week talking about how much they love you & their class, the ones that come walk in beaming each day & make you smile just because they are, the ones that give you hugs & say thanks, the ones that have so much going against them in life & still choose to not let that limit their future & possibilities...they put on their game face & go.

I have the privelige of meeting & teaching kids like this everyday. Yes, the difficult ones are sprinkled in their classes, too, but it's a wonderful kid like this one that God uses to remind you that there is a reason that He led you into teaching & why you keep showing up to work each morning. Sometimes, it's not you as the teacher who makes a difference in your student's life, it's vice versa...& with kid's like this one, you just feel so thankful to have met them & even more thankful that they got put in your class.

Everyday that Tyler DeVries walked into my class with his twin brother, Kevin (also an amazing kid), he gave 100%. I can't tell you how many of the thousands of students that I have had in my five years of teaching I can actually say that about, but it's only a handful. During Fitness Testing every few weeks, this kid ran the mile in under 10 minutes...& beat the tail out of half of the rest of the class! Each time I would tell him that he didn't need to run all four laps & he would say that he just wanted to beat his last time. Not only did he always try his hardest, he is SUCH a nice kid! He & his twin brother were two of the most cordial & respectful students that Matt & I have every had (Matt taught them when they were in middle schoo). See below for how extra amazing this kid is...

http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display.htm?storyID=101710