Getting the wrong teacher

When I was a kid, summer was the best. My mom gave me chores, but life was great, no school, no homework, life was a breeze. At least, until Decision Day. In my little world, that meant the day that the school posted the classroom assignments and I would learn who I would have for a teacher. Let’s just say, that’s the day, life got real.

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It was a simple thing, but the classroom list carried a ton of stress. A good outcome meant a teacher I liked and lots of friends in my class. A bad outcome meant a tough teacher and no friends. In the end, I was never all that happy with either outcome, because it meant that summer would soon be ending and a new school year would soon be starting, but I still wanted a good teacher.

Like most kids my age, I spent an inordinate amount of time focusing on who I was going to get. We all wanted the fun teacher, the one who played games, seemed friendly to other kids, and gave out snacks. Looking back all these years later, it’s funny how the teachers I worried about the most, turned out being some of the best teachers I ever had. They challenged me, but yet still encouraged my curiosity and love of learning. I may have wanted someone else, but I flourished under their watch.

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Yes, it’s funny how life works that way sometimes.

I’ve seen it with my own kids too. My youngest son worried one year that he had the strict elementary teacher. Two months into the school year, he admitted that he couldn’t have been more wrong. Yes, she had brusque manner, but she got his off-the-wall humor and dry wit and encouraged his creative problem solving.

When he told me that, I wanted to lecture him about keeping an open mind, but deep down all I could do was shake my head in knowing agreement.

I write today in my post, Tough as Nails, on The Heart of the Matter, on one such teacher who I thought I would hate, but actually ended up loving. She taught me that there are no wrong answers or questions, as long we keep seeking the truth. I’m grateful that she gave me the strong foundation I needed.

Be sure to check it out.

Related Story:

Tough as Nails

on The Heart of the Matter