“If we want to feel an undying passion for our work, if we want to feel we are contributing to something bigger than ourselves, we all need to know our WHY.”
― Simon Sinek, Find Your Why: A Practical Guide for Discovering Purpose for You and Your Team
I did not come to teaching right out of college or even as a first career; I entered this profession after spending years in the corporate world and struggling to find something more than just a job, a paycheck, or a title. Once I realized that the job wasn’t enough, more money was not enough, and even with the title and important meetings with C-levels (CEO, CFO, etc.), all were still not enough, I knew it was time to follow my heart and do something I loved. Or at least something that didn’t feel like I was part of a soul-crushing, money-making machine.
I just wanted to find a job where I did not dread getting out of bed and going to work.
So, what was missing?
Why did I feel so empty?
The answer lies in the first word of that last sentence.
Why?
I had been working my way up the corporate ladder, and I was lucky enough to have some great mentors and personal development coaching, both of which served as guideposts that helped me navigate my adult life.
One of my biggest takeaways from these sessions was the importance placed on recognizing your core values and beliefs, especially when finding your purpose or how you would like to contribute to the world.
“Why” refers to the underlying purpose, meaning, or motivation behind our actions and decisions. A “why” is the deeper reason or belief that drives us, gives our lives direction, and shapes our choices. Our “why” represents our core values, passions, and aspirations. It is the essence of who we are and what we stand for.
Becoming a teacher was my way to earn a living doing something I am passionate about.
For me, teaching is more than a profession or a job; it is a noble act of service that can profoundly impact individuals and society as a whole. It goes beyond imparting knowledge and skills; it involves guiding, inspiring, and empowering others to reach their full potential. Teaching as an act of service embodies selflessness, compassion, and a deep commitment to the growth and well-being of students.
My why has nothing to do with helping students pass a standardized test, instilling the beauty of Frost, helping my students uncover the hidden messages in a text, or even writing a perfect essay, but it does have a lot to do with being the teacher I never had, helping students find their voice, discover their passions, and instilling in them that their ideas are important and deserve consideration and distillation so that they can become concentrated and poignant.
My why for teaching has more to do with relationships and seizing the opportunity of youth to dabble, play, experiment, and help my students understand their own “whys”…
…and why those whys are so important.
So, what does this have to do with teaching and learning?
Having a clear “why” and reminding myself of that “why” is important because it reminds me to align my actions with my values and aspirations.
I have to remind myself of my “why” when I am lesson planning, lest my lessons become rote, boring, and lacking in my own passion and individuality. My “why” provides me with motivation, resilience, and a sense of meaning and fulfillment during the days when I am reminded to “remember the CAASPP’’ or when I ruminate on rote regurgitation or reckless reference to texts or that my students don’t know what alliteration is, and especially during those morning staff meetings where 99% of the information could be sent in an email and I could be in my classroom getting ready for my day.
My “why” is what keeps me going on the days before and after standardized testing season, the days before and leading up to graduation in June, the long days of October, the race to winter break, and then finally the home stretch—the month after spring break, where I am exhausted and reflecting on the year and wondering where all that time went. Teaching is like raising kids. The days are long, but the year is short.
Finally, we get to the end, the weeks where I get to sign yearbooks, hang up new pictures I get from the seniors, and have fun with my students because I have built that culture in my classroom where learning and relationships are intertwined with trust and hope for their future…and my own.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29496432-find-your-why: Purpose