Dear First-Year Teachers,

Dear First-Year Teachers,

I hear you. I understand how you are feeling. You are not alone. I am going to say that again so it really sets in: you are NOT alone.

The year of 2020 has already brought so many unknowns. When I pictured my 2020 during the ball drop on New Year's Eve, oddly enough a global pandemic, murder hornets, and dust bowls and storms were not part of my vision. I know, right? But here we are, going through it all. Navigating through a global pandemic is something that no one has an exact road map for. We are all getting through these uncharted waters together. This school year is certainly one that will not look like the others, and it is a time for uncertainty for everyone right now; especially teachers. Going into my fifth year of teaching, I want to offer some advice of what I learned my first years of teaching to hopefully share some advice and words of wisdom that I wish I had when I first started.

Don't Let Anyone Talk You Down

"Oh you're going for teaching? Well let me just tell you that it's not what it used to be and you may want to consider pursuing something else"

These were the constant words that I heard from so many opinions when I expressed my excitement for going to school in pursuit of my Education degree. And to top it off, when I went to college, the economy was experiencing financial burdens and teachers were being laid off. Sound familiar? But look at where I am; going into my fifth year of teaching and have no regrets of pursuing a career in education.

Was it everyone's vision for me? No. Did some people fear that I wouldn't be able to get a job because of the economy? Yes. Did I make it through and now have I job that I can't imagine myself without? Absolutely.

Don't let anyone discourage you from what you are passionate about, and that's your students and helping them learn. I can't imagine not having my students in my life and are fortunate enough to have a family of co-workers who all support each other no matter what. I don't know what I'd do without either of them.

Be Open to Constructive Feedback and Find the Positives

It's my fifth year teaching, and let me tell you, I work each year to improve on my own teaching practices.

Overwhelming. Probably the best and only word to describe my first year of teaching. I applied, applied some more, interviewed, applied again, and still didn't land a position in a public school. Talk about frustrating and stressful. Then, I received a call to work at a charter school network as a fifth grade teacher. It was an opportunity to get my "foot in the door" with teaching and gain experience. People always told me that the first year of teaching is always the hardest. You want to know a little secret? Your first year of teaching is whatever you choose to make it. It can either be the hardest year or it can be your defining year. That's how I describe my first year of teaching: my defining year.

I am not going to begin to tell you about my first position, because in the words of Auggie Pullman, "whatever you're thinking, it's probably worse", says enough. Remember when I said your first year of teaching is whatever you make it? Well, I have a choice in remembering my first year, too. I can dwell on the negatives and my hard days, or I can focus on the positive that came out of that experience; I became a stronger teacher. And you want to know how I did it? It's real simple: I asked for constructive feedback every day.

Okay, I know what you're thinking, "WAIT. You asked them to critique you and tell you were doing wrong?". There you go again, back to the negatives. In my mind I didn't view it as things I was doing wrong, instead it was things that I could use to improve. Being positive is key, and not just in teaching, but any aspect of life. So how do you I do it? Well, it comes down to these simple steps:

1. Every time an administrator came in my room, I emailed them afterwards asking what they thought and what I could work on (and pretty soon they began to expect it from me)

2. I listened; during every faculty meeting and professional development I listened and took notes and applied what the speaker was saying to my daily classroom practices

3. During each post observation I had, at the part where they ask "do you have any questions", I always ask what are some areas or practices that you would like to see me improve in

4. The above three steps only matter if you're willing to put in the work to make the changes and improvements

I want you to read step number four again. The above three steps only matter if you're willing to put in the work to make the changes and improvements. It's just like asking your significant other where they would like to go out to eat, when you already know none of their options matter because you have your heart and sights on a specific place they didn't suggest. Let's be honest, we've all done it before! Even now as a teacher going into my fifth year, I still ask my administrators for constructive feedback. And with every suggestion they give me, it becomes my new goal to implement.

You are NOT Alone

Did it set in yet? If not, let's say it again together. You are NOT alone. This all comes down to the relationships you build with your students, co-workers, staff, parents, administrators, the list goes on and on. These relationships are the ones that you will cherish forever and will be the ones to be by your side always. I can tell you that I still remember each and every one of my "first year babies" (my first class ever), their parents, my coworkers from my first year teaching, and the administrators. And I even still have relationships with those people to this day. So much so that many of my former co-workers attended my wedding and some were even apart of my bridal party, and I still go to baseball games of my former students to cheer them on. These are relationships that I will have forever, and the same still holds true with the people I work with today.

I am fortunate enough to have relationships with the people at the school and within the community that I know I have their support whenever I need it. I always say that my students are "my kids" because I love them as if they were my own; and let me tell you, it does make a difference and is one of the things that makes teaching the best career out there. They say teachers become teachers to make a difference in their students' lives, but I believe that the students and people you meet along the way will make a difference in your life. You'll have memories and faces that you'll cherish forever, and its just that added confirmation of why you became a teacher.

I congratulate you on beginning your teaching journey!