Guarded

I have the awesome opportunity to work with people coming from all sorts of backgrounds with all different stories to tell. As a teacher, I get to see "ah-ha" moments that help me know that I am doing alright in this teaching world. Sometimes though (more often than I thought), I get guarded, tight fisted, difficult students. That's how we see them anyways. It always goes deeper than that. 

I have to constantly remind myself: They aren't mad at me, they don't mean some of the things they say, they aren't annoyed with me. 

Maybe they got in an argument with mom before they left the house.

Maybe they're tired from staying up the night before due to a variety of circumstances that are unknown to me.

Maybe something happened hours, days, months, or years ago and they still carry it with them every single day. 

Maybe life can actually be difficult for a middle schooler. 

So many times, we, as teachers, want to shove academics down their throats when so much more is going on in their lives; how can they be expected to focus on the task at hand? This has always been a struggle for me. As teachers, we have a duty to teach them. But as a human being with feelings, I also find it equally important to help the student grow in all other aspects-- teaching to the whole student.

But what can one do when you're not sure what is going on with them? All I can do is keep going, keep trying, keep pushing; because I know they see it and feel it; my heart for them-- all of them. Even if I'm not 100% sure that they know and see my intentions, I can at least hope they do. Because I'm not going anywhere and I don't want to give up on any of them.