I am approaching my fifth year of teaching. This will be a defining moment in my career. It is said that if you survive past the first five years you will likely stay in the field. Those that are going to leave teaching generally do it before the first five years are over. So for those newbies out there I just want to share four things about teaching that college does not prepare you for.

1. The Politics

I think this is the one that surprised me the most. It is also probably the most frustrating for me. When I say the politics I am not just referring to democrat versus republican. Although its worth mentioning that other people in education have made many assumptions about my political ideals based on who I am on the outside. I am more referring to how things are done in the school system.

I would love to think people are chosen for leadership positions based on their experience with students and how they’ve proven they would be a good fit. More than likely, though, they are chosen based on how well the are liked with the higher leadership and how much of a “brown-noser” they are. It also has nothing to do with how their colleagues look up to and respect them. It usually goes to the person who is always in the principal’s face about something. That’s fine if that is your personality, but for those of us that are more meek, we don’t stand a chance to be noticed.

The worst part is we are often looked down on for not being like those others (or maybe that was just my poor leadership). I cannot tell you how many times in the last few years I was compared to someone with an outgoing personality and basically told to be like them. We are expected to differentiate our education, but then told as teachers that if we aren’t outgoing enough that we’re doing something wrong. But again, maybe that’s just my experience, but I doubt that. There is no way to prepare for this kind of treatment.

2. The Paperwork

No, I am not referring to making copies. I am referring to tardy passes and hall passes, absent notes and parent emails. I could go on and on. Every year I try to prepare for the mountains of papers that would pile up on my desk, but with no such luck. Notes from meetings that I am expected to refer to after the fact and handouts to pass out during home room. It’s crazy the amount of paper teachers handle on a daily basis that in no way affect the actual education of students.

Then there is the important stuff, the legal documents 504s and IEPs. The things that truly do affect the education of students. All of that paper has to be somewhere accessible at a moment’s notice. I already have a paper problem in my house and I have the same issue at work. If anyone has a way you prepare to keep the papers organized please share it below in the comments.

3. The Physical and Mental Draining

I probably could modify that to just say the mental draining, but I figure I will leave both for those that are unaware. At the beginning of the year, I find it hard to prepare for how mentally drained I will be when teaching. I expect to be physically tired. I generally spend a lot of time sitting over the summer so I know that in those first few days my feet will hurt and my body will be tired.

Unless you find a way to physically switch your brain to “on” for 4-5 straight hours with no break, you can not mentally prepare for teaching. Just think of how often you day-dream or shut down your brain in some other way when you aren’t working. Teaching doesn’t allow for this. If there are students in your room you better be on. Teachers are always watching to see where they are needed or wanted. In the beginning of the year it’s mentally draining to the point that it’s hard to put together a coherent thought.

I generally go home and try spend some time doing something that doesn’t require me to use my brain. This allows me to be more alert, and patient, when my husband gets home. If I don’t get that “decompress time” I am generally impatient and find it hard to focus on what he is saying.

4. The Heartbreaking Stories

Finally, there is nothing that can prepare you for the stories that you will hear about your students. Especially if you work with a disadvantaged (I think that’s the PC term) population. This year I had a student who lived in a shelter. At the beginning of the year I was told his mom was pregnant and on drugs. After the baby was born he was caring for the baby in the middle of the night.  I was told that he couldn’t wake his mom to take care of the baby.

My team tried to do everything we could for him. It broke my heart to know everything he faced. He came to school hungry every day, so he would visit certain people to be fed every morning. The worst part about it, though, was that he didn’t try. I gave him a pencil every day, no questions asked. Unless I stood over him (which is unrealistic on a daily basis) he refused to do anything. He would run around the room picking at people. I didn’t want to give up on him, but it was like he gave up on himself.

There are many other stories I could tell about students witnessing violence between family members. I hear students talk about their parents encouraging them to fight. Nothing can prepare you for this and being powerless knowing that your reach only extends so far. The best we can do (naturally) is try to educate them and prepare them for life.

Truly the best thing we can do is pray for them.  I have not always been the best at this, but I try to remember my students in my prayers. I may be the only  praying person they know. Witnessing to them or inviting them to church is not allowed, but I can always pray.