It is safe to say that this was the worst semester of my teaching career. While I fulfilled the minimum job requirements, I don’t believe I reached students the way that I am capable of. I don’t think I inspired, or changed lives, or enlightened. I went back to being disorganized and suffered from bad tech and even worse socio-political drama.
Life gets in the way of being successful sometimes. Life can even hinder success to the point where you stop trying. Every school I work at has teachers who have simply given up. They run through the routines like machines, collecting a paycheck to maintain a way of life. I saw myself headed there and it was a dark and scary place. I wish to always have a desire to be the best at what I do. I am not the best, and I don’t presently have the desire to push to be the best, but I expect to be better next semester.
Maybe that drive is not a switch one can flip to the active position. I’ve tried changing wardrobes and setting goals, even imagining what life would be if I were better at what I do. As I commented yesterday, nothing happened. I know I will try harder, I just don’t know how I am going to do that.
Some Thoughts:
- Seems like only a little while ago I was saying goodbye to BSG. Now I am saying goodbye to Fringe. All the good sci-fi is ending. What comes next?