A Teaching Life

I was particularly taken with his “your witness to the universe can’t be duplicated, that only you can provide it, and that it’s worth providing.” Sometimes it’s hard to wrap my head around it when I know that I am but one of billions of people on this planet.

I may have been taking his words seriously by not choosing to succumb to the diminished perception some hold for what was my task in the classroom? I think of everyone of us choosing to make a difference in our families, in our neighborhoods, our workplaces, our communities. At the same time, we realize that no one duplicates what we do, nor do we duplicate what others do. A profound insight.

I think of my life as a teacher. I wanted to be one-of-a-kind from my first moments in the classroom. Where that came from I have a few ideas. I have known from the first moment I stood in Room 22 at Hanover Junior-Senior High School in August,1962, that I would not be a replacement for the previous teacher but would be myself from that day forward not duplicating what she did, nor will whatever I do be duplicated.

Each of us comes into this world to do our stuff and leave. Each of us, regardless of circumstances is unique. I have been fortunate.

Do you believe that your witness to the universe can’t be duplicated, that only you can provide it, and that it’s worth providing? Do you realize you are the only one who can be who you are, your authentic self and connect with the world around you. That’s why you are here.

Invite teachers you know to read my Blog, written with them in mind to provide hope in these troubled times.