Who Knew!?!?! Free Style!!!!!!!!

Wow. I must say, this career is like no other. I have worn many hats in my time: construction, metal fabrication, machine tool, retail management, sales, business owner, and more. None of which could compare to the level of dedication, emotion, and planning that is involved in teaching high school students. I say high school because it is all I know. I am sure there are a number of eccentric variables in other levels of education. Much like a teenager eager to jump feet first into the real world, no explanation could describe or prepare me for what to expect going into it. My grandfather has always been my biggest role model. Growing up I spent as many opportunities around him that I could. Being from a single mother home, I suppose it was in search of a male role model (and what a great one). He taught Metal Tech for 35 years at the high and tech school level. I remember then (and still now) there wasn’t anywhere within 15 miles of Columbus we could go without getting stopped. Most always it was to thank him for helping them, teaching them, or supporting them in some way. There was always a story involved concerning what they had taken from an experience with him. As a child this was of course lengthy and unbearable. As I got older this became a source of great respect and further admiration of him. Granddaddy did warn me of the many complications that were involved in teaching, as did a number of other previous teachers I know. It was always a warning of the “politics” involved in teaching and of the red tape and regulation. This seemed trivial to me from an outside perspective. I thought “most of your time is spent with the students, teaching. How much other stuff could there be”. Well, in retrospect, their warnings were completely ligament and never over exaggerated. But they were also correct in the fact that it is the most rewarding thing I have ever done. I have also met some big hearts and beautiful soles in students and teachers alike I may not have found otherwise.