All I Really Need to Know I Learned from Teaching

After graduating from college and not really having a firm grasp on what I wanted to do or having a job lined up to support myself I decided that signing on as a permanent substitute teacher would be a good short term solution. My thought process was that while teaching, I would still continue to look for employment in my field of science/research. I knew that I didn't want to make a career out of teaching, so this idea was a bright one. Little did I know that while I may have been the teacher, I was also the student. Here is some of what I learned while teaching high school freshman.

• Don't be afraid to share. Students and people in general are usually genuinely interested in knowing who you are and what you've done. Many hold back for fear of what others might think of them. I found that especially with students, they are looking for someone to relate to, someone with similar interests. (This makes class discussions a lot less painful)
• Demand respect-'nuff said
• Be flexible. There were times when I had the day planned out like a military operation and inevitably a fire drill or convocation would throw my plans right out the window. Knowing that I can't control everything and that I did what I could under the circumstances kept me in check.
• Don't assume anything. Easier said then done, I know. Just because someone looks, acts, or dresses a certain way doesn't mean that's who they are. Yes, first impressions are important, but take the time to go to know the person before you start passing judgments.
• If you don't know the answer, be honest and say so. You'll gain respect for not pretending to act like you're a know-it-all. When I was teaching I thought that I was supposed to have the answers for everything. After all, I was the teacher. If you don't know the answer, say so, but always take the time to look it up and share it with the person who asked.
• If you did or said something wrong-apologize. You wouldn't believe how many students looked at me like I had three heads when I said "I'm sorry." I guess they didn't expect it from an adult. It goes back to respect.
• Every once in a while go out on a limb for someone. Not only does it show the person that you care and believe in them, it also strengthens your relationship. I once talked to the asst. principal out of suspending a student for behavior issues. I followed that kid like a dog making sure that he got to class on time and completed his work. Ultimately his behavior improved and so did his grades.

This is just scratching the surface of what my students taught me. It was good going back to high school for a year. College, and the adult life take things so seriously. Yeah, I know that life is serious and so is education and that you only have this one life, yada, yada, yada. Yet on the flip side, it's good to be reminded that life is so much more then syllabi's, lectures, and tests.

Back that thang up

Typically, I am at work around 6:30am. The other morning I pulled up to the parking garage and swiped my parking permit. The screen said "invalid card" What?! I swiped it again and again "invalid card". I look over at the car beside me and he is having the same problem. We both look behind us and there are about 20 cars with sleepy and now frustrated drivers are behind us. The only way to get out is to back up. So, I along with 20 other drivers proceed to back up into the street. I go to the parking garage next door and the same thing happens again: swipe, invalid card, back up. It's now 6:45 am and I think to myself "screw this" and I park in the "A" lot for doctors, professors and other important people. I write a note (lest the parking police try to ticket me for being an invalid) with the date, time and issue with my card. I then hurriedly walk to the hospital (because I am 20 minutes "Late"). On the elevator ride up I tell a co-worker about my morning and the conversation is something like this

Meghan

I wasn't able to use my card this morning, it said it was invalid

Co-worker

Oh, next time that happens just park in the gargae attached to the hospital and get your ticket validated. Where did you park?

Meghan

In the "A" lot behind the dental school

Co-worker

You may want to move it

Meghan

Well I wrote a note

Co-worker

looking at me weird

you still might wat to move it

Meghan

o.k

so I get up to the lab, drop off my stuff, get back on the elevator meander through the hospital, back to the "A" lot, move my car, walk back, get my ticket validated and feel somewhat relieved that the parking police cannot get me now. Later on I tell another co-worker what happen

Co-worker #2

When you left Sat. night did you leave through the open gate?

Meghan

Yeah

Co-worker #2

well if you don't swipe out, the computer thinks you're still here, so if you swipe in you have to swipe out.

Crap.

so I go play musical cars again and go to my garage, take a ticket and then when I leave, I swipe out. Halluiegeh! All is good with the world again!

Lesson learned: Being "invalid" stinks, but during that time you can learn a lot of things.

Here at Last

After much deliberation (weeks actually) I've gone ahead and decided to join with the rest of the world and dive into technology. This is a huge step for me in that I have never kept a journal/diary/ or any record of my thoughts or ideas. I've always kept them in my little brain safe from the criticisms of this harsh world. This is no more. Here I will write about my life, family and lessons learned in the lab. Stay tuned.