While visiting with my granddaughters, Jacey and Mya, before their high school graduations, they asked me, “Grandma, how did you know that you wanted to be a teacher? It is such a big decision to choose your future, how did you know?”
Oh I wish I could be profound and talk of knowing that I loved children and wanted to teach them to navigate through life and be better people. I wish I could say it was my calling and I couldn’t picture myself doing anything else. Thank goodness, no one ever seriously interviewed me on this subject because the honest truth would be, I didn’t have a clue what to do. I applied for recreation-technology in Saskatoon but all my friends were going to Regina and so I decided to change at the last minute to be with them. Education was a reasonably easy college to get into at that time and it was already May, and I had to do something. It was not a well-thought-out decision. I was very excited to be moving to the city, finding an apartment, being independent and spending time with friends.
University was really just something I had to do between the weekends. It wasn’t until I began my first practice teaching stint that I even really realized that this was something I enjoyed and would be doing for a very long time. After practice teaching my classes started to hold a little more meaning. I loved my internship and gave it my all. My first year of teaching twelve precious little six-year- old’s in the wonderful, supportive, rural community of Avonlea confirmed that I had fallen into the career that was meant for me. I loved it. I loved all thirty years of teaching and I loved all the different grade levels that I taught in my career. I taught with some pretty amazing colleagues and learned lots from them. I became an administrator of a small school for a number of years and loved that too. I adored my students; especially the ones that challenged. I am so glad that I made that career choice.
I don’t know if I believe in fate or whether we control our own destiny, but in my experience, for what it’s worth, life often directs us where we need to go. Have faith. Always be where your feet are. Always! If it’s not working for you or doesn’t feel right, change and take another path. Don’t worry too much about making a life-plan. As long as you are paying close attention, life often makes a plan for you.
You were a great teacher. I never had you but things you’ve said about my kids and just out and about paint that picture.