It’s often said that we as teachers really do not understand the full impact we’ve had on our students. Many students find us years years later to thank us or to tell a story about what they remember from their days in our classrooms. Some even contact us to say that we’ve been an inspiration to them.
Well, I’m turning those tables today. This afternoon, I surprised a few of my old students at their high school graduation. This particular group of students truly helped carve my path and purpose as a teacher, and I don’t know that they or their families will ever truly understand what a huge impact they’ve had on my life, and in turn the lives of the many kids I continue to serve.
My fierce advocacy for kids didn’t start when I became a teacher. Rather, it started after I met this rambunctious and lively group of 2nd graders and their families back in 2006. Through ups, downs, successes, misses, and watching true resiliency take place, I learned how to be an advocate. I learned to see kids for who they are, celebrate their uniqueness, believe in them, and stand up for them when the system just wa
sn’t working with their best interests in mind.
Seeing these former little guys cross that stage as confident young adults to graduate from high school today was the absolute highlight of my teaching career thus far. So, today I want to thank them. I want to tell them that they have inspired me to keep on fighting the good fight, to see kids for who they truly are, to be the best teacher that I know how to be, and to try to always push myself to become better. The system may not always work for all of our students, but I always will. I will never stop fighting or believing in kids- believing in who they are and what they will one day become.
To the class of 2017, I thank you. You truly have inspired me. I am the teacher I am today because of you.
Your very grateful 2nd & 3rd grade teacher,
Ms. Nosek
Christina Nosek Literacy: Building Community in Elementary Education 