First few years can be trying ones for young teachers, who could use encouragement

Last week, I was bombarded by a handful of young teachers who wanted to pick my brain. We’ve all been there during the infancies of our careers – feeling hopeless and overwhelm. I’m sure we did the same thing – went to someone who’s been around for a while to glean some career-saving insight.

These novice teaches were very much feeling the stress of this noble, yet demanding profession. Although college grants us a fancy piece of paper that proclaims we are prepared, nothing can truly get us ready for the real life demands of being a public school teacher.

I didn’t learn how to manage 180 English essays or handle a screaming momma on the other end of the phone line, and these young teachers were experiencing what all of us have experienced, regardless of the profession we choose: second-guessing our career decision.

We can agree that no one chooses to be a teacher for the money, because no one gets rich teaching school. Most teachers choose the profession for larger, more internal gratifications.

But when lesson plans and paperwork, testing and score reports, unruly kids and grumpy parents, push young teachers to the limit, one can understand the urge to pack it up and run for the classifieds.

I didn’t know what to say, so I just shared my own experience.

I used to work at a school in another district that was poisonous. My co-workers spread negativity like they did gossip. They worked alone and bred selfishness throughout the school. I would walk down an empty hallway in the morning, see another teacher, say, “Good morning,” and be totally ignored. My inner optimism was consistently bruised by thick antagonism.

For my new friends in education, I shared with them a mantra I had to repeat to myself then, and still repeat to myself now when I become overwhelmed: Be a part of the solution, not the problem. To me those many years ago, that looked like shutting my classroom door and being the very best me I could be for my kids. It looked like stepping away from the gossip and walking in my own truth of who I was and what kind of teacher I wanted to be. And it looked like still saying, “Good Morning,” regardless of a reply.

As things turned out, being steadfast in that mindset not only protected me from urges to walk away from teaching, but it also advanced my career in ways I never could have imagined. So although no words can lighten the load of being a teacher, perhaps a shift in mindset can persuade the desperate to keep up the fight. At least that’s what I’m hoping for the ones I spoke to last week.

Thursday is Thanksgiving, a time to pause and ponder our many blessings. So, as you take that time, consider the hundreds of young men and women spending their first Thanksgiving as a teacher. Maybe they will be grading papers after lunch on Thursday instead of watching football with the fellas. Perhaps they are overwhelmed and clinging to a week off with white knuckles and a desperate heart. Or by chance they are toiling over the decision to return to their classroom on Monday morning.

We are certainly blessed with many teachers who make teaching look easy, but for the ones who fight through those first few rough years, a very special thank you. Thank you for choosing to fight so our kids can have great teachers. Enjoy the rest, Teachers.

Sheryl Green is a secondary educator in Columbus. To correspond with her, please email her at sherylgreen14@yahoo.com.