For me, working in a school was a dream job. When I was younger I wanted to be a teacher, desperately. My first job was an after-school program at a school. I guess you could say I enjoy working with kids. However, I am now working as a substitute and I can honestly say that working in a school has taught me more than I ever thought it would.
1. You turn into a serious germaphobe.
When you're constantly watching children pick their nose or cough all over themselves it's hard not to. They then proceed to try and hold your hand. By the time I get home my hands are so dry from me constantly washing them. And don't even get me started on how many times I've caught kids trying to leave the bathroom without washing their hands.
2. Your patience reaches an all time low.
When you have the same kid testing your patience all day, it's hard to go home and still have any left. This may lead to a few more outbursts than normal. I mean at school I can't freak out but when I go home, watch out!
3. There's a new level of appreciation for wine.
There have been days where I leave work still annoyed at the things these kids do. Luckily, wine does the trick of helping me forget.
4. You hear things you don't want to hear.
Actual conversation between me and a first grader:
Me: Did you clean up your lunch?
Student: I had two people and a dog die in my family.
5. You know exactly how NOT to parent your child.
Too many times have I seen spoiled children who act out in school. But then I see the parents, and how they blatantly ignore their children and then it all makes sense. Or parents that shrug and laugh off seriously disrespectful things their children do, thank you for showing me how not to raise my child.
6. You are able to tolerate more odd smells.
Between children that smell like pee and children that smell like body odor, I don't know which one is harder to tolerate. There have been times when the smell of B.O has engulfed the whole room. Unfortunately, you can't just not help those kids. Working at a school has had to have helped me learn to hold my breath for extended periods of time.
7. You realize teachers have a lot of drama too.
This one gets me every time. I just always think back to my high school experience and wonder which teachers of mine had beef with each other. I don't know why I thought that when you work at a school everyone likes each other. It's still a job, there's still bound to be at least one person you dislike.
8. You learn how to subtly play favorites.
I'm sorry but it's true.
9. You learn to be more empathetic.
Sometimes, I hear about things going on in a student's home and it all makes sense. When I see this kid lash out I know it's a reflection of what's going on in their home life. It breaks my heart, especially with the young ones, and has definitely taught me to be more empathetic, patient, and understanding. Sometimes it's not that they are bad kids, they are just going through a rough time.
10. Laughing becomes a coping mechanism.
When a child is being extremely disrespectful you learn to just let out a slight chuckle. This is not because you think it's funny but because you are a second away from losing your cool. When I say 'losing your cool" I mean giving some hard discipline and then quitting.
11. It's rewarding.
Whenever I hear a kid say, "You're my favorite teacher" or give me a picture signed "To: Miss D, Love: Student." I feel really appreciated. The same feeling I get when I help a kid understand a concept in class and they get it. Then I know why it is I come to work and it's for more than just a paycheck.
