If you would have told me at the end of the summer that Moss Point would have been a key part of my development as a teacher, I would have called you crazy. As the sun sets on this first experience, I can honestly say that I do not really want to leave. I feel as if I have finally made a connection with my students and am leaving them behind for good. It really warms the heart to hear things like, "Mr. Medlin, we don't want you to go," or "Mr. Medlin who is going to BOOM when you are gone?"
What is a BOOM you ask? During review everyday, after a student answers a question correctly, I say in a very loud manner, "BOOM way to drop some knowledge on us!!" They thought I was absolutely crazy the first day, looking at me as Kanye West would say "That shit cray," but it came to be a staple in my classroom. I would walk down the halls and hear random booms from students that were also in the hallway. I feel that I have left some mark here in Moss Point.
What has made this experience great is that I can feel that I have grown as a person from it. In the past, especially the first half of 2012, I was the most selfish person around. In order to change, I had to learn to put the students before myself. This was when I feel that the most growing occurred. It had finally dawned on me that I was not at the center of the universe. I was finally able to move forward.
In conclusion, and if you are still reading, I want to offer up a piece of advice. Go into new situations with an open mind. Love everyone for who they are and learn to work with them in whatever way you can. Keep your guard up but keep your tolerance higher. Different people are going to test you, but meet that challenge with an open heart and you will receive the best results.
Thoughts from an aspiring history teacher,
Mr. Medlin
No comments:
Post a Comment