Creative Commons License photo credit: yveslorson

I was 19, and seriously considering a career change. This teaching thing was not going to be a good idea after all. Everything had worked out fine until the time came for us to practice in real classrooms. One whole week had gone by and I’d had enough.

“Kids are impossible and ungrateful” I had commented to a friend. “You spend all evening planning classes, go to bed unusually late, wake up before the birds and what do you get? A total lack of interest in anything you have to say.” I wasn’t exaggerating. The school to which I had been assigned was quite far. Since I had to be there by 6:30 am (classes started at 7:00), I had to leave the dorm at 5:00 am, take 3 buses and then walk for 2 blocks. “Do they even pay attention?” I continued, ” Not a chance. But if you’re lucky, they’ll sit quietly for 3 minutes!”

I was replaying this conversation in my mind on my way back to the university campus after another “pointless” day teaching 7th grade Science. Finally the bus reached my stop but as I stepped out, big cold drops fell on my arm. Great! Just what I needed! Does it ever stop raining in this country? Then as if I wasn’t going through enough, I realized that I had forgotten my umbrella.

What was worse? To take shelter at the entrance booth and put up with the guard’s boring conversation or get soaked? I walked on past the faculty houses. The drizzle soon turned into a shower. I was shivering and considered running back to the booth, when I heard a door slam and footsteps splashing in my direction; a teenager I had seen before was running towards me with a big umbrella.

She walked me all the way to the dorm, then turned and walked back home. I don’t remember if we talked, I don’t even remember if I said thank you. But that simple act changed my attitude that day. I suddenly realized that it was not all in vain, that teenagers just have different ways of expressing themselves, and that everything was going to be alright.

Today, 11 years later, I’m still teaching high school, and I love it.

By Bob Perks
Email: Bob@BobPerks.com
Bob is an author, trainer, and inspirational speaker. Visit his website at www.bobperks.com
Bob Perks
Reprinted with permission

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