Teachers have been seen as only authority figures in their classrooms, with time students have shown more interest in learning who their teachers are. By teachers being able to get to know them better as a person, the student-teacher connection has grown and students can relate more to those authorities who teach them.
We asked teachers and counselors tips for students if they were interested in becoming teachers. We also asked teachers for more insights into their career journeys. We did this so you as a student could get to know what some of your teachers or counselors did before going into the field of education.
Students and teachers get to know each other better in the classroom since that is where they spend most of their time. It is crucial for students to get to know who their teachers are so they’re able to connect with them.
Counselor Melissa Henao, for the Graphic Arts shop class, shared about her journey to school counseling.
“So when I finished with psychology, I kind of was in the air, I’m not really sure what to say. I want to do something with psychology, but I also like working, in a school and working with students and stuff like that,” Henao said. “When I went into college, I actually thought I wanted to be a teacher, but I took a class that made me realize it was not fit for me”
Teachers sharing about their own journeys and struggles help students understand their teachers better, and feel less alone on their own journey. Students listening to the adults that they look up to makes it easier for students to feel that they understand where their teachers come from.
“Something I would like to know about my teacher is why they think to choose this job?” Nabeela Belah, junior in the graphic arts shop class, said.
It is necessary that students get to know their teachers so that they’re able to learn from their teachers’ mistakes, and choices. Students would be able to understand what to do in different situations and learn about their choices.
Jenny Ho-Suh, ISS teacher, said, “Try everything, work everywhere, and that’s the only way you would know whether you like it or not. Like, don’t just stick with one thing and then be unhappy when you’re 30. try different places, try to look at what other people’s jobs are, whatever’s interesting, try to get a job in that field, and like, try it out. while you’re young, especially.”
Ms. Ho-Suh says the advice she could give to any student is that a student should do everything and shouldn’t be stuck in a job they don’t like.
By teachers being able to share about themselves students are able to listen and grow, make progress in their journey of life. Students and teachers connections are able to flourish because of shared experiences that teachers and discuss in the classroom.
