Be Self Aware!

What does this mean?  I mean, like wow!  Truthfully, it means acknowledging who you are, what your strengths are, where your weaknesses are, and what are your feelings in the moment.   

 

If you can stand in front of the class and acknowledge you have some anxiety but you’re there to serve them and get them toward if not to the goal of graduation (or whatever is the ultimate goal for that grade level)  as best you are able with their input and help, then you can facilitate opening more doors.  

“Know thyself,” said Socrates.  What did he mean by this?  It doesn’t necessarily mean have a great deal of self-confidence; it does mean you understand and are cognizant of your reactions, your actions, words, and relationships with others as well as things.  

Why haven’t you folded the laundry yet, this week?  What are you avoiding and why?  Understanding the answers to this and confronting those very things you wish to avoid gives greater insight into the person you are.  

IF you were working with clay and trying to mold it, would you do a very good job if you had no light?  Or even if the lighting wasn’t very good?  Some may accomplish this task with some skill, but not all.  Think of yourself as the clay and your task is to help others understand their abilities, their prowess, their strengths - how sufficient a job could you perform?   It’s somewhat of a “Physician, heal thyself!” moment.  

Consider your reasons for teaching in the alternative milieu - or teaching at all.   Can you truthfully answer the question of “Why did you choose teaching?” honestly, and with an understanding of the weight of those words?