Dear 2013 Self,
Hey! This
is 2016 Megan writing you a letter. Read this letter and pay very close
attention because I am about to give you some valuable information and advice
from someone who knows you best: yourself. But first, congratulations! As of
right now, we have officially survived student teaching. We have our KPTP
results back, we are about to start our last day with the kids we have been
with for the last year and more importantly, we have an actual paying job for
next year. Sound unbelievable? Well, you better believe it girl because it is
100% true!
I know
right now you are feeling overwhelmed with starting new classes with all of
them having huge papers due around the same time in April. I also know that you are feeling inadequate
around all of these other education majors. When everyone introduced themselves
at the beginning of the semester and finding out that a lot of them have always
wanted to be teachers, it’s hard to feel like you belong when you have recently
decided that this is what you want to do. But trust me, you do belong there and
do not let anyone make you feel any differently.
With all
of this comes a lot of work; I mean a lot of work. Forget about your very small
social life and your regular amount of sleep during the week because that will
be all messed up for the rest of your career, so you better get used to it. You
will soon learn that high school and middle school has changed in the very
little time that you have been out of it. Not every student is as hard working
and focused on their education as much as you were. But I guess that is why you
wanted to teacher, is it not? To hopefully get through to the students who do
not believe education is the most important part of their lives? Well, believe
me, you have your work cut out for you. But I know you can and will become
someone else’s ‘Ms. LaFever’ and inspire them to work hard so they can become
successful in life.
Now, here
is where I leave you with a few points of advice to keep in mind. Number 1:
take a copy of any assignment your merely think you might like or want to use
in the future. Number 2: write down every single piece of advice or information
anyone gives you. Number 3: buy all of your English and education textbooks
used instead of renting them; you will need them in the future. Number 4:
remember that it is okay that you make mistakes (and believe me, you WILL make
mistakes and plenty of them); you are not expected to do everything perfectly.
Number 5: when others are giving you advice or critiquing you, they are just
trying to help you grow as an educator and not trying to put your down.
Well,
good luck in the next two years. You will do great, so do not worry. You will
be stressed quite a bit, but it will be worth it in the end. Trust me.
