Teachers

I have a newfound appreciation for teachers, what they do and what some of them may experience.

I was in a CPIM class recently, as was someone I work with. My boss had asked me to help this other person with studying and understanding class materials and whatnot. I realized through various conversations with both of them that this was just as important a goal to them as it was to me, so I did my best to make sure we were both prepared for the exam.

I took my test first, and passed. I was relieved for sure, but there was another test to be done. Another week full of study and review sessions, and finding ways to explain things in relatable, plain English. And that last part could sometimes be difficult, because we all know how verbose and indirect textbooks can be, especially with topics that are complex to begin with.

She passed her exam yesterday, and I was so happy for her. She called me and I could hear the giant smile on her face. I was almost as nervous for her as I was for my own exam, it was insane. Last night, I slept so good knowing that I helped someone achieve an important goal for themselves.

I got to thinking… what do college professors or high school teachers go through during midterms or finals week? Do they experience the same anxiousness beforehand and the same relief once it’s over? And how do they react if a student doesn’t pass? It’s just this whole other mini-cosmos in the world that I had never really considered.

If you are a teacher, either by trade or by circumstance – thank you.