A Letter to My 1st-Year Teacher Self
Dear Jill,
Congratulations on your first job! As your future self, I wanted to share some lessons you learned in your 30 years of teaching. Use these lessons to guide you as you launch your career in the field of education.
Please read each lesson carefully and do not ignore them. If you do, you will be burned out in 20 years, lose your love of teaching, and start counting the years to your retirement. Trust me. This may sound harsh and unbelievable at your age, but, it’s the cold, hard truth.
Lesson #1: Pace Yourself
I know you, and you will come off of the starting line, like an Olympic sprinter. You will want to do everything, do it now, and do it fast, but STOP! Slow down. This is not sustainable. Teaching is not a 100m sprint. It’s a marathon, so save some energy for the final lap.
Lesson #2: Ask for Help
Asking for help is so hard! You’re afraid you’re inconveniencing others, or they will see your pleas as a sign of weakness. Future you agrees with Les Brown when he said, “Ask for help. Not because you are weak. But because you want to remain strong.” You cannot do it all. Plus, you don’t even know what the heck you’re doing most of the time. Reach out to experienced teachers and ask for their guidance and feedback. This will make you stronger and make your life much, much easier.
Lesson #3: Just Say No
Look into the mirror and practice saying the following phrases after me: “No, thank you”, “ No, my plate is full”, “ No, I do not have time for that committee”, “No, I am not interested in doing that”, “No, I have to leave at the end of the school day”, “ No, I cannot meet during my lunch”, and “Oh, hell, no”. Use one of these phrases whenever someone asks you to do something you do not want to do. Do not try to make everyone happy. You will thank me in 30 years.
Lesson #4: Take Care of Yourself
In case you haven’t heard, teaching can be physically, mentally, and emotionally draining. Taking care of yourself is non-negotiable. Go to bed early, eat well, exercise, and rest. Carve out time to spend with your family, friends, or even yourself. When you’re tired or on the verge of a breakdown, take a day off. The kids and substitute will survive, but you won’t if you don’t make wellbeing a priority.
Lesson #5: Don’t Take Things Personally
You’re having trouble connecting with one of your students. A parent sends you an angry, condescending email. Four of your students scored a Below Basic on the standardized test. Don’t take any of this personally. Maybe the student just wants to get their work done, so they can go to soccer practice after school. Maybe the parent was having a bad day and decided to take it out on you. Maybe the students didn’t sleep well the night before the test. You cannot control every person or situation, but you can still be an awesome teacher.
Teaching has many rewards. You work with amazing colleagues, learn, love, and laugh with your students, and receive support from invested parents. Younger Jill, listen to my advice for a long, fulfilling career in education. You can do this!
Love,
Your much wiser, 50-something self
