I became a Health and Physical Educator to help make a difference for everyone I come into contact with. There are times when you do not think you are making a positive impact on your students; however that is far from the case. You get to serve so many roles with your students, from teacher, to counselor, to simply someone that will just listen. They will come to you, and talk to you about pretty much anything. That truly is the best feeling, as they have that comfort level with you and feel at ease when having that conversation.
As I continue to evolve as an educator, I want to continue to give back. If you have never considered being a mentor for someone, I highly recommend it. As someone who was mentored by numerous individuals, it really can make a difference on how your professional journey can start, and continue to grow. Starting the Bob Kenney Mentorship Program within my local zone of NYS AHPERD was my way to give back. At the same time, if you can mentor one of your students, it can truly be a gamechanger not only for yourself, but the student as well.
My students continue to come and talk with me, even though I am no longer their teacher. They are excited to let me know what is going on in their lives, and how they continue to grow into competent and engaging young adults. From helping them with their college applications and essays, to navigating relationships and simply just having a conversation about life, that is what our students need. There are so many of our students that are struggling outside of school; however when in school, you would have no idea. They need that person, or persons that they can confide in, and become the best possible version of themselves.
We do such an amazing job as educators; however there will be more times than not that we are not recognized for what we do. Honestly, that is fine with me. What truly matters is how our students feel about us, and how we can be that positive influence and role model for them. It will start with one student, and grow from there. Would being acknowledged for all the amazing things we do be a great thing for Health and Physical Educators? Yes, it absolutely would. However, to me, I would rather have those interactions and build those relationships with past and present students to show them “Why I Do What I Do.”
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Pair this blog post with the following:
5 Reasons Why I’m Pursuing My PhD by Lisa Paulson
Why I Podcast by Nathan Walker
Have you read the latest Book of the Month recommendation?
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