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Those who can do, teach.
Words Jennifer Engmann
The saying goes a little differently normally, but teachers hold a special place in some of our lives for being much more than what they teach.
I remember my early years in school much more vividly than I do my time at university. From my primary school teacher encouraging me to not be fearful of reciting my times tables in front of the whole class, to my ever-enthusiastic Law teacher in sixth form telling us personal stories about his career in the legal field. These memories are only a minute part of how influential teachers can be in our lives, and it is often just the little things. In the UK our first interactions with them started in our early years age 4/5 when you start primary school in Year 1. From that first day you are left in their care for around 8 hours a day, all the way up until the age of 16 or 18, depending on what point your experience ends.
So, there is no doubt about the amount of influence teachers can have in our lives.
As someone who has friends who currently are in this role, hearing, or watching their Instagram stories, the adoration their students express towards them is one of the most touching things to see and it resonates with multitudes of people around the world, like videos of primary school teachers rapping nursery school rhymes and the kids cheerfully singing along, to teachers providing platforms for their students to showcase their talents such as debating or through art.
Being a role model as a teacher may not be the initial goal for someone. We constantly see how undervalued they can be by our government when it comes to their salary; the constant scrutiny from either the family of the students they teach or even the students themselves. Choosing to take on such a responsibility may be overwhelming but the impact of being a great role model echoes throughout the lives of their students forever.
There are many successful people, who constantly acknowledge their former teachers, even years after reaching their success in their careers, having left education years ago. Most people can recall a teacher that went outside of their role and simply stepped into the role we needed them to be in. Whether it’s a parent, a counsellor, an investor or our support system.
However, the unavoidable reality is that some experienced teachers may not be able to merely relate to their students as much as they had before. Due to the current generation being more wealth driven and genuinely seeking inspirational tutelage. Some learned teachers may not be experienced enough to naturally inspire an ambitious student who wants to be the next Jeff Bezos or Elon Musk. So how can a teacher be the genuine role model?
One evident thing I will acknowledge is the key insight they can provide in noticing qualities which can breed a successful future for their students. Influential teachers whose students may have gone on to achieve unbridled success often disclaim that they recognised something in that person from their early years. Those that are able to positively identify these qualities and tailoring their approach to their role. Not just to nurture them but to use their own experiences to create opportunities, are the untold heroes in education.
In my personal experience, I have found that the teachers who made the most considerable impact on me comprise the ones who led by example. They had been there, done that and lived to tell the story. Being a teacher can sometimes be thankless job especially for those who go outside the parameters of their role to ensure their students get the best support. Taking on this position, knowing they can perform a massive role in ensuring all those that they teach possess every possible tool to win in life. Is that too much to ask? No, not if they genuinely appreciate the pivotal role of what it means to be a teacher.