In Life You Are Not Expected To Know Everything

In life, one should never be expected to know everything, especially since life is a mystery itself. While entering the pre-service teaching, as well as the peer tutoring profession, I constantly told myself the following: "Kevin, you are expected to know everything, especially since you plan to become a future educator."

This is false.

At Felician University, I am studying to become an English teacher. However, I am also being taught to realize that teachers do not become effective, as well as successful educators, in a blink of an eye. In life, it takes time for one to meet success.

Phelps finished a career that spanned five Olympics with 28 medals, 23 of them gold. No other athlete in any sport has more than nine gold medals.

Now, think about it: did Phelps begin to win Olympic gold medals right after he learned how to swim?

I am indeed required to have knowledge of my subject matter, the English language and literature. However, I am still not expected to know everything about my subject matter.

In fact, I find it pivotal for one to be aware that it is impossible to read every piece of literature ever written, yet he or she is able to explore, as well as expand on his or her knowledge regarding a particular literary time period or writer.

For that reason, my fellow readers, I urge you all to give yourselves a pat on the back, especially since we all make a difference in each other's life.

In January of 2015, I began my pre-service teaching career at Sacred Heart Elementary School in Lyndhurst, New Jersey. While walking into my cooperating teacher's classroom, I was nervous, as well as was not fully aware that in life, it is normal for one to make mistakes, especially since it eventually becomes a life lesson.

At the end of my first pre-service teaching experience that April, I got the opportunity to sit down and realize that the teaching profession is a mystery, just like life; you will never know where the profession will take you, as well as what it will teach you.

On August 26 of 2015, I began my peer tutoring career at Felician University. The first few months were challenging, but I am not surprised, especially since it is my first job in a college setting.

Nonetheless, helping college students improve their writing is a difficult task. In fact, many college students assume that a peer tutor's job is to proofread, as well as edit his or her academic paper—this is false. Peer tutors are not editors.

My job is to assist my tutees with their reading, writing and study skills. To me, the tutoring center is a positive classroom where students can come for help, especially if they are struggling academically and are looking for motivation to succeed.

While working as an English peer tutor for the 2015-2016 academic year, I got the opportunity to transform the challenges that I faced into positive learning experiences. In fact, such experiences have allowed me to grow as a person, on a personal and professional level. Such growth is crucial in life, especially if one plans to succeed in the working world.

My experience as a pre-service teacher, as well as a peer tutor, has allowed me to envision my future English classroom. A positive setting where my students and I are not expected to know everything; instead we are expected to learn from one another.