Reflection 3 | A letter I wish I read my first day of student teaching.

Dear Rene,

This is a gentle reminder that you can do this. Not only can you, but you will. You are going to do amazing things. You are going to touch lives, complete student teaching, pass your exams, and become a real- life teacher. You are going to implement things you have learned. You are also going to reject things that you have learned. That is all okay. Use this time to become the best you that you can.

In this time, you will feel some pain.

• That one kid who is already rolling her eyes at you. Don't worry, you will win her over. She will appreciate you. She'll deny it, but she will. Eventually, those eye rolls will be accompanied by a smile. And let's be honest, what sane person wouldn't roll their eyes at you?
• The student who won't write for you, just wait and keep trying. Eventually, he lets you help him. He might even read a little. 
• Your empathetic spirit will be ripped to pieces when one student tells you that she can't remember the names of the high schools she has attended while writing her resume. She will expand and tell you a harrowing tale of the foster system. You will cry. Right there - where she can see you. Then you will blink. That moment is when you will truly understand why you are called to be a teacher.

You will experience joy.

• An exchange student will write you a thank you card for helping him with English and teaching him correct verb tenses. He will be one of the most joyous souls and you will find peace in his smile. Make sure he finds peace in yours as well.
• A student will applaud your poetry unit, and others will join. This is not what you did it for but rejoice in that moment. It's okay to be proud of yourself. 
• You will inspire students. You will do it without meaning to just by being you. One student will tell you. It won't be awkward. She will just tell you that you inspired her to be confident in interviews. It means a lot to her. 

On three separate occasions, you will have students express to you that you have made a difference. Some teachers go years without that appreciation and frankly we probably will too. Appreciate them back. Keep moving forward.

 Don't change, continue to grow yourself and continue to learn; but stay true to yourself. Your teaching style is different because as you and I are both painfully aware, you are different. Don't try to meet other teachers' styles. When you do try to be someone else, it will fail every time. You will learn through each failure, so don't be afraid to mess up. Something very personal and very bad is going to happen. Remember to smile. For some of your students, you are the only adult that will ever smile at them. Don't be afraid of the terminology of teaching. Everyone really is saying the same stuff and using different words. A handout is a worksheet and they are both a graphic organizer. No one expects you not to see the similarities. The difference is in how they are presented. You would never expect anyone to learn from just a piece of paper anyhow.

Don't be afraid of the formulas. Some kids really need the extra help. Learn avid strategies. Teach kids to love writing by showing them your own love for it. Show them your flaws. Be you.

O and don't be scared of the election. Everything is still in one piece in April. And you get a job. Don't stress that either.

You rock,
Rene