If you’re an education major, there is nothing more exciting than student teaching, right? I mean, this is the moment that we have been waiting for our entire college careers. Student teaching is an experience like no other, but it isn’t a cake-walk either. In case you were wondering, student teaching is one of the hardest, challenging, most stressful things you will ever have to do, but that is what makes it one of the best, most rewarding experiences of your life.

Imagine this: the stuffed animals and dolls that you used to “teach” in your bedroom when you were five are now suddenly real-life students. Every 3 seconds kids are asking you if they can use the bathroom or get a drink of water, and at least six people will tell you personal things that you probably do not want to hear. Whether you like it or not, you’re in charge now. You make the decisions in the classroom. You are the center of attention, and what you do is so important! Students are relying on you, and what you do will impact them far beyond the months of August through May. No pressure.

Planning. Your college professors always preached about the importance of planning. And while it’s important to have plan, let me tell you, the number one thing you can do is to be flexible. Things will never work out quite the way that you had them planned. Unannounced fire drills are a real thing. Kids are coming in and out of your classroom. Pep rallies will interrupt your instruction. If I have learned one thing about teaching is that smooth seas never made a skilled sailor.

No matter how prepared you are, you are never actually prepared. Students will say things that will throw you for a loop on a daily basis. How do you respond? Sometimes you just have to wing it. You won’t know every answer to every question, but you can turn that into a learning opportunity. College teaches you the basics, but you will never truly know what it means to be a teacher until you actually do it.

Student teaching isn’t just like any other internship. It gives you a glimpse of the realities of the educational system. It’s a rigorous process, and sometimes you’ll want nothing more than to give up, but you’re students will never give up on you, so don’t give up on them! Student teaching is hard, but it’s beyond worth it. Even on your darkest day, you’ll make it through.