My seniors finished up earlier this week. This was my first year teaching a senior class, so it was a new experience for me. It was a class for students who have struggled in English, so I knew I had my work cut out for me. It was tough coming up with assignments that were engaging and motivating but still challenging enough to push them to learn and improve, but I did my best.
While most of them did pretty well, there were always those who were content with the bare minimum, but I wasn’t. Often, I would have them to redo something or add more or fix certain parts before I let them turn it in. Usually, this was met with resigned reluctance, and occasionally with open hostility.
One of my seniors really got me unexpectedly on Tuesday. Tuesday was their last day in class before graduation, and one of those students I had to stay on regularly got called out of class. He told me he would stop by to say bye, though.
When he came by after class, I told him I was proud of him for making it. He told me he was proud of himself, too, and then said he appreciated me pushing him hard to work to his potential. It made my day.
It wasn’t much, but it didn’t need to be much. It’s just nice to see the fruits of your labor.
The Educator's Quest 