As I review the title of this blog post I realize that it may be a bit misleading. I am not writing a post about how to say no rather writing a post about why it is so dam hard to say no and why I don't condone it.
I have made it through the first week of my third year teaching. The following are requests made by students thus far:
"Can you be the advisor of a dance club, so we can boost school spirit?"
"Can we get goats on campus?
"
"Can we show animals, both small and livestock?"
"Are we getting chickens? If we are can I use them as my SAE?"
"Are we doing an officer retreat? We should do it over a weekend, spend the night at a hotel, and do team building activities."
"Are we going to be participating in the Ag. Literacy events?"
"Can I start an aquaponics and use it for my SAE? I could even grow plants to feed the class pets."
"I am a little queasy when it comes to dissections. Can I have alternate assignments so I can still be in the class?"
"Will you be my senior project mentor?"
"Will you proofread this project proposal for me?"
"This is the student handbook. Will you read over it and make any spelling and grammar corrections?"
"Can I sign up for a CDE? Can you explain what a CDE is? Do you win those plaques for competing in a CDE?"
"Are we taking a FFA trip again this year? Where to? How much? When?"
"Can we buy embroidered t-shirts for the FFA officers to wear during events?"
"Do I have to wear OD? It is really hot Marsh!"
This is just to name a few. Wondering what my response to these request was? I bet you can guess. I said, "Yes, we can definitely do that!"
Now, each time I say those six words, a piece of me dies inside, but amazingly enough I say it with an unwavering amount of enthusiasm each time. How? Why? I know with each new committment I make to my students that I must uphold it and it will require a great deal of time from me with no monetary compensation. With that being said there are a few things I want to make note of.....
- I am NOT a teacher for the money. I work two jobs just to support myself and buy items for my classroom and the FFA. I drive a 2006 Honda Civic and do not own anything name brand. I neglect myself to give my students what they need to be successful.
- I look forward to Mondays. I look forward to going to bed some nights just because I know when I wake up I get to go to school and be with my students. I choose this profession because I love my students and I love seeing them excel in all they do.
- I remember the first time I was exposed to agriculture education and FFA. More importantly, I remember WHO I was. Without ag ed, FFA, and my amazing ag teacher (Mr. Robert Leib) I would have not be as successful as I am today. FFA undoubtedly changed my life and who I am for the better. I want to provide my students with all of the opportunities I was afforded and more.
- I know that all the extra time I put in, the sleepless nights, the rolling out the sleeping bag because it is pointless to leave my classroom for the night, the immense amounts of caffeine I intake just to keep my eyes open, the tears, the frustration, and the thought of "the light will never come" all leads to one thing-->the ultimate goal--> STUDENT SUCCESS. I know that when that success appears it will erase all of those bad memories mentioned above and I will, even if for just a split second, find utopia. Utopia because my students have grown, worked hard, and accomplished a goal they set for themselves.
So, no I do not know how to say no. Yes, I am aware of the looming fear of "burning out."
I figure five great years is better than 20 mediocre years.
I will continue to say yes, until my mind and/or body will no longer allow me to.
