There's a First for Everything

As I put together my classrooms and things started falling into place, I realized that all of my "firsts" were slowly being checked of the list. The big one that I was looking forward to was my first day as a real high school teacher. I had played so many different scenarios in my head about what the first day would be like and had practiced what brilliant things I would say to my students that would change their lives. Let's just say the things that happened in my head, didn't exactly happen in the classroom.

It was 6:50 am and I was standing in the commons waiting for my first group of students to show up. I had dreamed that we would have this amazing first day that none of them would ever forget! Half of them showed up about 20 minutes late, a quarter of them didn't even show up and the ones who were there, weren't there mentally. I was excited and nervous and they were just plain tired. I guess after being told over and over again that you can't succeed and that you're wasting your time, your view of school is pretty shot. These are my kids. I have two types of students. The "Blue" students and the "Gold" students. One group is there because they have fallen behind and the other group is there because they've been expelled. Both groups have been left behind and forgotten by the teachers who want to teach the kids who are "worthy" of their time and effort. I knew I had to change my approach. These students needed someone they could trust and someone who was willing to be there for them. They needed the assurance that I wasn't going to give up on them.

So, I changed my pace. I started talking about achieving greatness and being the best we can be. I talked about having people turn their backs in the most desperate time of need. I promised them that I would never be that person. I gave them journals and I told them that I would accept nothing less than their best. I told them that I would give them the tools they needed to succeed, but ultimately it is up to them whether or not they choose to use those tools properly. I showed them that I am not perfect and I showed them that I would always respect each of them as individuals. I stopped putting on a show and started being real. I spoke from my heart instead of from a piece of paper I had written the night before. Then and only then, did they respond. The kids that everyone had labeled as the "bad" kids were some of the kindest, most interactive kids I'd ever seen. These kids have been misunderstood their entire lives and it was time that they finally get what they truly deserve: someone who cares and is willing to stay up for hours trying to find things that will help them succeed and feel like the great kids I see in them every day.