Super sweet vs. positive influence

Back in April, I wrote a post about my dream of being a teacher at an international Christian school. At the time, I was positive that I would someday teach third grade.

Now, just to show you that nothing is certain in life (except death and taxes), I have found that I might want to teach high school English!!!

That's quite a big leap, from third grade to high school! But for the past month or so, I've felt an urge to minister to teenagers.

I talked to my mom about how I was thinking of becoming a high school English teacher. She was a little surprised----ever since I wanted to become a teacher, I've said that I would teach third grade. But then she pointed out that the teachers who made the most influence on her life were her high school ones. She remembered her elementary school teachers with fondness, but they never made a big influence on her life. It is the people who are there during the critical points in a person's life that really leave a mark.

Even though I'm still in school, my teachers have already made a difference in my life. I know that I will always remember and treasure the things they have taught me, not just about academics, but about being a person of integrity and character.
These women have made a big impact on me, and are part of why I am interested in also teaching teenagers.

I've always wanted to make a difference in someone's life. If I was a third grade teacher, the kids I teach might think back someday and say, "Wow, she was a super sweet and kind teacher."
But if I decided to become a high school teacher, one of my students might say, "She really made a positive influence on my life."

I think the latter is what God would prefer. Sure, there is always a need for third grade teachers. Some people aren't cut out for trying to get teenagers to write well and understand Shakespeare. I don't know if I would be that patient, but I like to think I would be!

I've also said that I want to teach at a Christian school. No exceptions.
But after attending the WorldViews camp, my mindset of being in the 'safe' environment of a Christian school  has changed. In his last lecture, Bill Jacks said, "Take what is common to your culture and make it into a pulpit." He also said that, "public schools are the generating stations of values."

Being a public school teacher would definitely be hard. The curriculum the system gives me would most likely not be something I would choose myself, but I'm not afraid to add my own Christian influence to it. I might be shunned by the other teachers because I'm a Christian. But the Bible says to be a light in the darkness, and it seems to me that public high schools these days are pretty dark.


So there's my new focus on what I want to be someday.

What do you hope to be someday?

Love,