Page Eight

TODAY STARTS ME!

Reaching the Highest Level of Achievement

By Ian Whelan

Even though I am a young teacher I know that developing good relationships with my students was the key in getting the most out of them. Students got the most out of me when they deposited their trust in me. As a teacher you want your students to have goals that soar beyond their own expectations and you want them to succeed at those goals. I asked my 8^th grade students what their goals were, some of them included being a famous actress, a designer, to be a sports star, a great auto mechanic, a scientist solving diseases, an inventor, or to be able to run their own business. So I then asked, “where and when does it start? … HERE! NOW!” I exclaimed. Fear and anxiety fell over their faces. Being ten years older than them I knew what they were feeling all too well. I had experienced the same fear and anxiety four-years ago when I changed my major for the second time. Not realizing this initially, I continued with the lesson that day hoping they would feel inspired to start succeeding immediately… my first day with them. Trust had to be earned between us to break down barrier and start going somewhere.

This was not an easy task to accomplish, especially given that the students I adopted were previously abandoned by four teachers within a two-year span! Therefore I could understand their hesitancy to trust a new teacher. But we all had a desire to start something positive out of the situation. So, I reiterated constantly that their generation is the future of America and they have a great advantage, more so than any other generation due to their unquestionable knowledge of technology and foreign languages. I wanted them to earn my trust as well, it is easy to earn my trust, show me that you want it … badly. It is the unquenchable thirst for knowledge and success that already lies within you, reveal it to everyone. An old phrase I heard and recited for them everyday to remind them: “Today is the first day of the rest of your lives”. To me it means it is never too late to start, And, in this manner, through consistency and positive reminders, I earned their trust. The feeling we all began to experience was incredible. The energy is amazing in a group of people when they have trust between one another. Mountains can be climbed and amazing obstacles can be overcome, this is a lesson I wish I learned when I was their age.

My life in high school started entirely unfocused and I wasn’t able to nail down a goal for myself. I too wanted to be a sports star, an inventor, a musician or an astronaut, or a paleontologist. I lived my life one passing moment at a time, never fully grasping reality and the importance of time. I never fully trusted anybody with my goals except for myself. A person should be the one who takes action on their goals but they should always have support in these goals.

Throughout high school I picked up interests in several things, becoming a renaissance man with no focus. I played the guitar and sang in the choir. I played 3 varsity sports. I read about astrology and astrophysics. I was taking an inventions and patents class during my senior year of high school. The problem with me never achieving these goals was never grabbing them by the throat. I had a problem, I never asked for help. If I told my music teacher my goals, she could have connected me with other students of the same interest or professionals who could mentor me. If I told my coach my desire to play Division 1 college athletics he could have sent letters to colleges before the season started and I could have made a highlight film to send out to colleges. If I told my science teacher my desire to be an astronaut she could have guided me to the right college and shown me books of information about the space program.

I am a perfect underlying example of why it is never to late to start your life. I made some mistakes and I discovered my true calling. I was put on this earth to ensure that people to reach their full potential, to become a motivator; to be like an engine propelling the machine. Although sometimes I look back on my life and like to think how cool it would be to conquer the unknown of space, or be on the stage of a rock concert or catch that winning touchdown. And you know, it is never is too late.

This is a problem I saw in the days of my youth and a problem I see with the students today, and I am sure that it will be a continuing problem if the student-teacher partnership is not linked through trust. If you have a goal, let it be known. Teachers are there to help you. I LOVED it when students came up to ask me for help. It means they might have been struggling but they were trying really hard to reach the goal of understanding and conquering the problem that they faced. That is why I had a desire to be in the education field, to help people achieve their goals and reach the fullest of their potential. If your teacher doesn’t project to feel the same way then express how you feel, talk to them and let them know what you are experiencing. Teachers are there to guide you, all the staff at a school is there to guide you. Let them know where you want to be, who you want to be, and what you think the road is to attain those goals. Your life goals will be accomplished quicker if you have the determination and the support of everyone around you. I believe, and my students believe that this is the key to succeeding in life.