One of the best classes that provided me with the most rewarding experience i received throughout my years of high school occurred during my senior year. Originally, I wasn't quite sure if I wanted to go through with the application process, but I was glad I did. There is this huge idea that a student's senior year is supposed to be the easiest year out of all four years of high school, however I have to disagree with that statement. I think it is one of the hardest and most important years because not only are colleges watching your every move, but it's a year where students really have the freedom to take classes that they want to take. The classes students want to take could be classes just for fun, or in my case, to test out possible career paths. This class for me was the Dakota High School Teacher Cadet Program. Honestly going into the class I knew I wanted to go into Journalism, but I also knew I had a two-hour block to fill and that one of my biggest goals in life was to be a role model to kids because I knew a lot of kids today didn't have that positive person to look up to in their lives. So now that I've explained the why behind the reason I chose to take this class let me explain what I learned and what I now know because of this class.
First, many students and teachers have the mind set that this class is just a walk in the park. Well let me tell you, it's not. Next to math, this was my hardest class my senior year. Every week it felt as if something was due. Whether it was a paper on a book we read, chapter packets from our teacher guide book, preparing for evaluations, books on child development, or projects in our classrooms Teacher Cadet never failed at keeping me busy. For future students, this is where a planner becomes extremely helpful! Bottom line, the work load may have seemed like a lot at the time, but it ultimately taught me to breath and balance which helps tremendously now as a college freshman. In addition, the work load also gave me so much more respect for teachers. I say this because, while I was complaining about all the course work I had to do, when I went into my cooperating teachers classroom and saw all the work that she had to do, my work seemed like nothing in comparison to the pile of papers and tests that she needed to check and grade.
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Another lesson I learned from this class was one I would have never learned in a classroom as a student. As a Teacher Cadet, one of my favorite parts about taking the class was having my own class I visited quite frequently throughout the week. I loved all the adults I worked with at my elementary school and had the uttermost respect for them. However, just as in the real world, not everything was always smooth sailing. There were times I got frustrated and I felt I was being treated unfairly but I had to learn to power through it because I made a commitment to not only the class academically for myself but also to all 27 of my students. I knew I could not let them down so I learned how to communicate, listen and work better with my cooperating teacher when it came to some minor disagreements and misunderstandings. Once I got through that rough patch, I got along great with my cooperating teacher. I will forever be thankful for having the chance to work with her because I learned so much from working with her and my students.
By taking this class, I gained a different sense of responsibility which I still carry with me today. The bond I made with each of those kids I cannot put into words. I truly looked at them and loved them as if they were my own children. I would have truly taken a bullet for any one of my students. That's not the most uplifting thing to say, especially in the messed up world we live in today, but it's true. Those kids definitely tested my patience at times, but the tough times together proved to be worth it when I finally got them to focus and put in the work they needed to learn what was in front of them. They didn't only affect my actions in the classroom but also outside the classroom. Whenever the thought of doing things every other teenager my age did entered my mind, I thought twice because of those kids. What if something happened to me? What would they tell my students? Personally, I'm always one that thinks long and hard with everything I do, but I think when you have 27 little boys and girls counting on you to be there for them it causes you to think before you act just a little bit more. Those kids truly brought out the best in me and the impression they left on me allows me to continue to be the best possible version of myself today.
My instructor for this class was truly one of a kind as well. She supported me during the times I was frustrated and supplied me with the best advice and guidance that I still remember, and take from today when I'm put in certain situations. She helped me come out of that class as a stronger and tougher student but also an all around better confident human being. Although, my major now in college isn't education, the lessons and skills she taught me in that class will continue to help me in my future career.
There isn't a day that I don't miss that class. I miss those days in class where my instructor led some of the best class discussions. I miss my fellow teacher cadets and all the memories we made together our senior year. I miss being greeted by a classroom full of little people that stared at the clock knowing I arrived every day around 12:20 PM. I also miss my hugs at the end of the day from them and all my little notes and pictures I received and still have today. I know, however that my instructor will continue to be successful in teaching. I also know that my fellow teacher cadets will be successful in whatever career paths they have chosen. But most importantly, I know my students will be able to do anything they set their minds to because Miss. Katie will continue to remember and always have faith in them.
