I have come to fall in love with teaching in Catholic schools. What are YOU in love with?...

"Nothing is more practical than finding God, that is, than falling in love in a quite absolute, final way. What you are in love with, what seizes your imagination, will affect everything. It will decide what will get you out of bed in the morning, what you will do with your evenings, how you will spend your weekends, what you read, who you know, what breaks your heart, and what amazes you with joy and gratitude. Fall in love, stay in love, and it will decide everything." - Pedro Arrupe

Thursday, August 18, 2016

A simple poem for my ninth year

Year nine of teaching -
Similar to years past, yet different.
No two years are the same,
All students change.

Who are these students?
What are their stories?
What do they need?
How can I bring them closer to God?

How many sleepless nights
will I spend worried about the classroom,
unsure about the data and assessments,
second guessing the time I spend or topics we cover?

I never feel like I've given enough,
yet each day I dig deeper than before.
I believe that God is in all children
and that all children can learn, just at different rates.

So, this is year nine.
My heart has grown,
my teacher toolbox is ever-expanding.
My students ground me and keep me humble.

This is failing.
And getting up. Again.
This is striving to love like God loves.
This is the start of another year.
This is my chance to say YES to God.
This is teaching in Catholic education.

I'm ready.

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