Working with young people has got to be one of the most rewarding careers I could have ever chosen to pursue. I can't believe that I was running from this for so long because I absolutely love my students. They are truly amazing to me.
I work at a charter high school in Tempe, AZ where the students come here for a variety of reasons. Some students have been kicked out of traditional high schools, some have disciplinary issues, some just don't want to be bothered with the traditional high school thing, but most just want to graduate earlier than if they would if they were attending a regular high school. It's an alternative school that caters to the "at promise" youth and have day and evening school. I teach the night school which is all computer based education (CBE) and assist the students in all their subjects.
Although I'm a Spanish teacher, the school didn't have to funding for me to have my own classes, so I have to assist the students with their core subjects as well as their electives. Because it's all computer based the students are basically teaching themselves the content and taking quizzes and tests via computer as well. The students come to school every day and do their work on the computer. Some are more diligent than others, but the fact that they're committed to attending a night school to do computer work for 5 hours each day is absolutely fascinating to me.
The best part is the love I get from them. They're concerned about me when I'm not here, and they love to hear stories about my life experiences and my children. They love that I listen to them and try to give them constructive advise that I feel will help them beyond the classroom. My students bring their babies to school to meet me, invite me to their quincineras, and have extended an invitation for me to attend graduation in May. I get emails and texts from my students expressing their appreciation for me as a teacher and how glad they are that I'm here.
My students are rough around the edges (some rougher than others) but they have good hearts and I'm so grateful to be in their lives. I hope that I've positively impacted their lives as much as they've impacted mine. I think I've finally found my calling and I'm so glad to be an educator.
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