This semester has been a whirlwind for me. As a second semester senior in the education field, I am spending the remainder of my undergraduate career as a full-time teacher in a classroom. While Clemson does the best they can to prepare all of their teachers to enter the classroom, there are some things they just can’t teach you in school that you have to learn yourself.
1. Students are not evil, nor are they out to get you
My professors have constantly warned me to keep my guard up and never turn my back to the students. While this may be good advice, almost all of my students are pleasant, funny, and willing to do exactly what I ask. They might talk quite a bit and be rowdy sometimes, but they all have giant hearts and are amazing people.
2. The full moon changes everything
I have no idea why or how, but the phases of the moon change the way students act. Something switches inside them and they all go crazy. They’re a little harder to handle and a little more aggressive. Basically, high schoolers are werewolves. Only a little bit scarier.
3. The copier makes you want to pull your hair out
It will inevitably jam the second you start copying a test, or will run out of paper three pages before you’re done with printing parent letters. You’ll also really need to print something “real quick” right when another teacher needs to print 100 copies of a worksheet.
4. Students will ALWAYS ask to listen to music
Literally constantly. Every time you go to do anything, there is a chorus of “can we listen to music?” And then they are always upset when you say no. It’s like they’ve never done this before.
5. One student can change everything
I don’t know how, but in every class, there is one student that changes the dynamic of everything. When they’re absent, it seems like a completely different class. Either the class calms down and everyone acts like angels, or they go insane. And it’s only that one student. When anyone else is absent, nothing changes.
6. It is the best decision I have ever made
Most days I come home not knowing what my name is. I collapse on the couch the second I walk through the door and fall asleep almost immediately. I’ve cried in my car after school on several occasions. And yet, I still wake up every morning excited to go back because the positives far outweigh the negatives. This is not a job for the faint of heart, but I am so happy that I get to go make a difference every single day.