If you've been reading my articles for a while, you know that back in October, I switched my major from Political Science to English and Education. I absolutely love my Education course this semester, and it has reassured me that I made the right decision by changing my major. My classmates and I will often share many of the same thoughts. Here are 100 things that cross our minds as future educators.
1. I love kids. Seriously, they're the best!
2. I wonder what kind of a teacher I'll be?
3. Will my future students like me?
4. What if my students make me the butt of all their jokes?
5. No, that'll never happen.
6. I'm not a regular teacher, I'm a cool teacher.
7. Will my future students even know what Mean Girls is?
8. Who am I kidding? They'll know what it is because I'll tell them what it is.
9. Seriously, though, that film better be passed down from generation to generation as if it were Scripture.
10. What if one of my students calls me "old"?
11. I will make sure every student, especially low-SES students, have options and opportunities in my classroom.
12. Wait... I need to show up to school at what time?
13. I hope my students learn something in my class.
14. By "learn", I mean "remember information for longer than a week and way past the exam".
15. The best gift a student can give a teacher is the chance to see them experience an "aha!" moment in one of their classes.
16. Although, Chipotle gift cards aren't bad, either. (Just saying.)
17. I'm going to be a hard grader because I care about my students.
18. I'll basically be running off passion and caffeine for the next forty years. Exciting.
19. I won't be making as much as I should be.
20. SUMMERS OFF. SUMMERS OFF. WHAT TIME IS IT? SUMMER TIME. IT'S MY VACATION!
21. My kids probably won't know about High School Musical, either. *sigh*
22. Maybe I can teach kids how to do taxes?
23. No, that's not on the test.
24. Or part of the curriculum.
25. Sorry, kids.
26. Why do teachers lower their expectations for students of color? I smell institutionalized racism fueled by white supremacy.
27. Students of the future better freaking learn how to walk in the hallways.
28. If/when I see high school couples sucking face in the halls, I'm going to look away and pretend that I'm not throwing up in my mouth a little bit.
29. WHY ARE THERE NO BOOKS WRITTEN BY WOMEN ON THE DISTRICT'S READING LIST?!
30. I will greet all my students as they come into my classroom so they feel welcomed and appreciated as the lovely individuals they are!
31. Yes, I know I could be making a lot more money if I had gotten my PhD. No, I don't want to put myself into more debt, thanks.
32. Parents are going to yell at me because I "gave" their kid an F...?
33. ????????????
34. Okay, this history book is incredibly white-washed. Why are these being distributed in schools?
35. Code of ethics, please stay three feet away from me!
36. (I really just need my personal space.)
37. My immune system is going to hate me, but then it will love me because I will literally be invincible.
38. Why aren't kids allowed to eat in class?
39. My students can eat in my class as long as they clean up.
40. I wonder if any of my former high school classmates' children will be in my class?
41. Why do kids need to take so many exams?!
42. I hate standardized testing.
43. I hate that I will be planning my lessons around testing.
44. If those "Cool story, babe, now go make me a sandwich" t-shirts are still "cool" when I'm a teacher, I will send that student to the administration for breaking dress code- my dress code.
45. NO DEPICTIONS OF THE PATRIARCHY ON YOUR CLOTHING!
46. What if I have to report a student for being openly suicidal?
47. Oh my god, I would never be able to live with myself if one of my students committed suicide and I didn't notice the signs.
48. Everyone should be a mandated reporter. Let's all save lives!
49. I'm in so much college debt.
50. My classroom is going to be so colorful and organized!
51. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
52. My future spouse better bring in the dough.
53. It's a dream of mine to work at a Title 1 school and help low-SES students.
54. I could make my kids brownies!
55. *sigh* Never mind. Thanks, Michelle Obama.
56. Just kidding, First Lady. You're awesome, and so are your arms.
57. So you're telling me that I'm going to spend hours creating cute little handouts and students are just going to... throw them away?
58. My future male students are going to sexualize me and I'm not mentally prepared for that.
59. I need to learn how to be a morning person.
60. I wonder what new apps will be popular when I'm a teacher?
61. Will there still be apps?
62. Jeez, I won't be that old.
63. Who will be our President when I'm a teacher?
64. Whoever they are, they need to increase the federal education budget! Our schools needs to be fixed, updated, and need to provide the necessary tools for our students to succeed.
65. There will be fights... and I'm legally required to stop them.
66. Well, guess I'm going home with some black eyes in the future.
67. "Where did you get that black eye?" "Oh, y'know, just a typical day at the office."
68. Oh god, I better have excellent life insurance.
69. Are kids still going to make 69 jokes?
70. I would love to work with my favorite teachers one day.
71. Going to school for Education is the best decision I've ever made.
