In honor of Valentine’s Day and the start of the Lenten Season, I wanted to keep my message this week short and sweet. At the core of each of my blog posts thus far, there has been an underlying message. Not only do the college students I work with have a passion for the teaching profession, they have demonstrated time and again that they possess the one quality that will set them apart from other educators: heart.
There is simply nothing more important for an educator to have than heart, not only for their everyday duties, but for their fellow colleagues, administrators, and most importantly, their students. Teaching is one of the hardest professions in the world, and educators do not go into it for the fame and wealth - teachers are sometimes overlooked and often underpaid.
However, teachers are the backbone of our country as they shape future generations of presidents, doctors, lawyers, entertainers, and every profession in between. And thus, it is important to select only those teachers for our school districts who have that extra emphasis on helping students become well-educated, wise, and decent human beings. Smart teachers know that they can’t get bogged down by bureaucracy. They let their love of the profession be what drives them day in and day out.
Therefore, I wanted to leave those young educators with this simple message: always remember why you wanted to become a teacher in the first place and never lose sight of that love for what you do in your career. It can help shape a long and prosperous career in one of the most important professions in the world.
Olivia Schum
Director of Student Engagement
The School of Education
St. John’s University