During my teaching years, I was blessed to work with well over 1,200 students. Those students have now grown up to be engineers, teachers, business managers, dads, moms, and yes, even fast food workers. Even though the great majority of those students grew up to become productive members of society, others have struggled.
No one argues that teachers can sometimes predict the outcome of a student's life. Socioeconomic factors, academic performance, and behavior often hint at the student's future, but not always.
I remember being surprised when one summer, after paying the Soil Conservation District to come out and plant a grove of trees, I watched one particular student outwork the others around him. I was shocked. The student who had trouble even sitting still at his desk was working harder than the rest. He seemed to appreciate the physical labor.
At the same time, some students who seemed to have limitless possibilities before them wound up struggling through adult life, whether it was with alcohol, drugs, or the law.
The main reason that I quit teaching was that I was simply burned out: exhausted, overwhelmed, and badly in need of a break. I realized that I couldn't save enough kids, no matter how great my intentions were, and that unfulfilled desire wore this teacher out.
Do you notice a little problem there? It's too easy when working in a service profession to forget who's in charge, and it certainly wasn't me! People are saved through Jesus Christ, not through Mrs. V. or any other well-meaning, hardworking teacher.
I wish I would have spent less time thinking about giving up and more time giving my students up in prayer.
Today I'm praying for all those students, that they may find lives full of meaning and blessings and that they may recognize that they each have a calling to fulfill. For any former students who may be reading this, thanks for the memories.
