Under the influence

No not under that influence...
We had a chat today in class about 'influences' that may have caused people to make some major decisions in life. This lead me to give an example from my own life experience. Mmmm what to tell and what to leave out...
I chose to share with my class about influences that lead me into teaching. Now I've heard some very sad stories which have prompted people to become teachers - as in 'I had the worst teacher...and I became detemind that I could do a better job'...Well for me it's more than one thing that lead me to teaching.

First off - as a bilingual child of the 80's, attending Grey Lynn Primary School - it seemed in all my classes I would have a child from Samoa who could not speak a word of english. I became the self appointed interpreter for these students. Without getting too emotional - I quite like the fact that I acted as a bridge at time for these students. I was blessed in that all these students were kind to me and I suppose I could say in reflection they certainly 'had my back' if ever needed. The idea of me being a 'teacher' for the Hamo's I was becoming pretty good at. So that was my Primary Teaching Career underway...

I was schooled up to 3rd form in Auckland central before moving out to Mangere. Here I was taught English by a very good teacher. He wasn't too much of the emotional sort but very professional as in - he taught us well. We were what they called the 'top class' so instead of the cool baggy basketball short wearing boys, we had the guys with tight shorts and uncool socks and sneakers who enjoyed nothing more than comparing their calculus and statistics homework. This English teacher of ours did his job well, so well in that he influenced me to become a teacher. I liked what he did with us to help us succeed. Plus the minor fact that it was the only subject I enjoyed and would pass well...

Now that I am a teacher I begin to wonder about this teacher of mine, back in Mangere - was he one of the few teachers that was truly professional in his dealings with students? Does he stand out for me because he treated us like students who were capable of moving into successful tertiary studies and further into careers? So does this mean others were likely unprofessional in their attempts to teach and lead students to success? The Power of Influence...

Having gone through Teachers Training College and University, now a teacher...it sounds sad but it's the experiences of my life as a child in school that I draw upon mostly to guide me in my career as a teacher today. This plus the experiences of teachers that I have and continue to work with. That's the power of influence...we as teachers are in powerful positions of influence aren't we?! How are we influencing the children in our care? What's influenced you to become a teacher? Tell us your story.