Thoughts From a Student Teacher

I'm getting ready to finish up my student teaching at Yale Elementary. I have very much enjoyed my time there and will be so sad to say goodbye to the students and teachers there on Friday. Going in to student teaching, I thought I would learn so much about how to teach and learn a lot on classroom management. I have learned so much in those areas, but God decided to teach me a few other things along the way.

Yale Elementary is a tiny school, very different from the school I grew up going to. I walked into the school on my first day being so unfamiliar with a small school. Hello, I went to Union my entire life! As weird as it may sound, it took some getting used to at first. But one thing is for sure. I fell in love with that school and all the students there. Those kids have brought so much joy to my life.

After being at Yale for quite some time now, I have really gotten to know some of the students. Being on the teacher side of things now, I have heard some sad stories from these kids. I mean sad. I look at these kids and they seem so young and innocent. But then I hear their stories and realize that some of these kids have just had a hard life and a tough past. They have gone through things in their lives that have made them have to grow up quickly. They have to worry about so many more things than just getting to focus on being a kid. One thing I have noticed about these kids is that school is a safe place for them. It's where they know they will get fed breakfast and lunch. They know they have friends. It's like their worries get to slip away for a little while.

My fiance, Stephen, is also student teaching right now. He is teaching at a small school in Perkins. We constantly share student teaching stories with one another. I was talking to him one day about student teaching and he shared with me what his cooperating teacher told him. She told him that he might be the closest thing to Jesus that those kids ever see. Ever since he shared that with me it has been on my mind. These kids might not get the love of Jesus at home, but when they are at school, I can show them His love. These kids just want to come to school knowing they are loved and accepted. Being in an elementary school, I have learned that these kids really look up to the teachers. When those kids look at me, I want them to see someone happy, someone positive, someone who is different. I want them to see Jesus in me. So what does that look like? Well, as I mentioned before, a lot of these kids have a rough background. I don't know what is going on in all of their lives unless they willingly share it with me. But I have learned that every single student in that school has a story. Every teacher has a story. Everyone has a story. I may not know what their story is or what their background is. I don't know how they are treated at home or if they have friends to play with at home. There are a lot of things I don't know. But the one thing I do know is this: I have the chance to make a positive impact on these kids and be Jesus to them. And you better believe I am going to take this moment and let these kids know they are loved and are cared about. If they have a rough life, I want them to come to school and get to forget about it, even if it's just for a little bit.

I'm leaving you with this-- everyone has a story and everyone has a background. We never know the whole story of what someone is having to deal with or what they are going through. But remember this---whoever the person is, they just need to feel loved. They need to feel Jesus' love. We have the chance to show His love to them. We can take the challenge or not. We can make a difference or not. I'm choosing to take the challenge and make a difference.

You are loved by Him.