Stressed

These past two weeks, I have been very stressed out with school work.  I have a mid-term tomorrow, and up until 5 minutes ago, I thought I was going to fail it.  On top of that, there is all my reading, lesson planning, observing, journals, as well as regular work.  Needless to say, I have been seriously considering running away.  The other day, as I was driving home from who knows where, I started thinking about a poem that one of my classmates gave me last spring.  This poem is what is getting me through this dreadful month.  For all you teachers out there, I hope you enjoy it!  And all those who believe that anyone can be a teacher, I hope you reconsider.  

What do teachers make?

The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life.   One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education. He argued, "What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?" To stress his point he said to another guest; "You're a teacher, Bonnie. Be honest. What do you make?"   Bonnie, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied, "You want to know what I make? (She paused for a second, then began...)   "Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could. I make a C+ feel like the Congressional Medal of Honor winner.  I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their parents can't make them sit for 5 without an I Pod, Game Cube, or movie rental.  You want to know what I make?" (She paused again and looked at each and every person at the table.)  I make kids wonder.  I make them question.  I make them apologize and mean it.  I make them have respect and take responsibility for their actions. I teach them to write and then I make them write.  Keyboarding isn't everything.  I make them read, read, read. I make them show all their work in math. They use their God given brain, not the man-made calculator.  I make my students from other countries learn everything they need to know about English while preserving their unique cultural identity.  I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe.  I make my students stand, placing their hand over their heart to say the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, One Nation Under God, because we live in the United States of America.   Finally, I make them understand that if they use the gifts they were given, work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life.  (Bonnie paused one last time and then continued.)   "Then, when people try to judge me by what I make, with me knowing money isn't everything, I can hold my head up high and pay no attention because they are ignorant. You want to know what I make?  I MAKE A DIFFERENCE. What do you make Mr. CEO?"    His jaw dropped, he went silent.