There are many jobs out there that one can pursue, and they are all unique in their own way. But one particular job is not like any other. You don’t sit in a cubicle all day or spend hours with your face glued to a computer screen. This job may be the most fun job ever, as well as the most stressful. This type of job involves working with children, and it is a job that is different from the rest. Whether you’re a teacher, camp counselor, or just work part-time at a daycare, below is a list of 11 things only someone that works with kids will understand.
1. You’ll always come home a mess.
If it’s your hands covered in paint, your clothes covered in glitter that’s impossible to get off, or it’s your mind going insane after a long day of listening to that same book on tape over and over again, you’re going to come home feeling tired, messy, and a tad bit crazy. (but being a little crazy is what it’s all about!)
2. The first day of school is almost as exciting and nerve-racking for you as it is for the kids.
The type of excitement and nervous that you’ll feel on that first day is a bit different from the kids, but it’s there. You’re excited to meet your new students and get to know them. It is a new school year after all, and a fresh start is always good. You’re nervous too, because of a plethora of things that could happen. What if they don’t like you? What if they never listen? What if they put me in a mental hospital before Christmas break?! These thoughts run through your head during the beginning of the year, but it all settles down in time.
3. You learn a lot from your students.
Crazy to think, I know. Not only do you teach the kids in your class, but they do the same for you. They never come in with a “black slate”, and you’ll end up with random knowledge on things like Angry Birds or Shopkins that you never thought you’d know. They’ll also teach you more about who they are as you get to know them, and building a relationship in which you both learn is amazing.
4. The gratitude you get from the children is heartwarming.
Every little “thank you” is like music to your ears. Feeling as if you made a difference in a child’s life is one of the best accomplishments one can feel. Whether it be a drawing that they made for you, an end of the year gift, or a phase such as “You’re the best!” Is honestly one of the best feelings you will have.
5. A quiet classroom is rare.
The majority of the time, your classroom is super noisy. The kids are talking to each other, playing games, and doing other things that are not necessarily quiet. Even you aren’t quiet! You’re always speaking to them, sometimes loudly, and it adds to the overall sound level of the room. It’s not often you get a moment of silence.
6. Those rare times when the classroom is quiet are beautiful.
You may not get that golden silence often, but when you do, it is beyond perfect. It could be nap time, quiet time, or anything else that requires the children to be quiet, and it is the best sound that you’ll hear. This also gives you the opportunity to wind down a bit, relax, or get those housekeeping things done that you’ve put off for the last week.
7. If you can make kids laugh, you are truly gifted.
It can be really hard to make people laugh sometimes. You’re probably not a professional comedian, but hearing those kids laugh after you tell your cheesiest joke is extremely satisfying. For a moment, you feel like you could do stand up comedy! (But, remember, you’re a lot better at working with kids than you are trying to make thousands of adults laugh, oh well). And if you can make older kids laugh? Well, I guess you can say you are something of a “super teacher!”
8. Hugs and high-fives make your day.
Not everyday is going to be one where you feel your happiest. But, getting that hug from the little girl in the morning, or getting all the boys to high five you after an intense game of tag makes you feel one hundred percent better.
9. Meeting all sorts of people who are teachers as well is great.
Wherever you work, you are not the only one who works with kids. Everyone there works with them! This gives you an opportunity to collaborate with other teachers on ideas, and get tips from those who have more experience than you do. You’ll always end up gaining more knowledge just by interacting with your co-workers, and it’s nice to know that you’re part of a “team.”
10. Watching the children grow and change throughout the year can be unbelievable.
You will have relatively the same kids in your class for the majority of the year, so it is almost impossible to not see a change in any of them. A child may go from being so shy that they did not want anything to do with the activities you were doing with the class in the beginning of the year, to being so social that they won’t stop talking! Also, watching them grow into students with more knowledge than before is amazing. At the beginning of the year, they may not have been able to subtract, but now they can do it with their eyes closed. It is incredible to see how much they blossom.
11. Working with children is one of the most rewarding experiences you’ll have.
You’re going to meet so many different children, with different backgrounds and personalities, and your life is sure to be enriched by them. They will change you for the better. You will develop special connections with the children in your class that are far different from those you will make with anyone. You have stories of all of the good (and not so good) times, and have memories that you will keep forever. Being able to help kids learn and grow, and seeing how much they have learned and grown since being in your care, is an experience unlike any other.
