Legacy
So today was the first day with students at my new position. I also had a former student ask me to stop by as she had just had her first child. On the way home I was pondering these thoughts...
What will be my legacy?
It hit me that I have not just taught students, I have taught families. I have taught them to the point they specifically asked for me or their extended family would proudly join my class as soon as they could. They know that once my orchestra babies, they are always my orchestra babies no matter how old they are.
I have not just taught music, I have cultivated an environment of growth, positive support, and confidence through music. I had a former student text me today asking about auditioning for a more difficult group. Before last year he would have hid in the back but in my class he found out he could lead and he started to believe...and now he seeks for ways to find out just how much he can accomplish.
I have not just taught skills, I have taught compassion and a love of life. My former student today wanted me to see her son. Of all the people she could have contacted, I was one of them. She shared her hopes and dreams for the future and she told me about how she couldn't wait to play her instrument for her son.
And it just hit me. This is my legacy. All of these students and their families...I touched their lives in some profound way that was far more important than any one subject or a benchmark. And I am now starting a new legacy.
It was like everything fell into place. While I hated to leave my students, it was the right decision. This is my legacy and my students will carry it on no matter who their teacher is. And staying required trading this legacy for someone else's version of what was important. I chose to stay true to myself, my students, and their families and continue the legacy that has touched their lives.
Strength, Hope, Compassion, Resilience, Reflection, Critical Thinking...I realize now each student took something slightly different from my class, but something deeply important to their humanity. I am proud of that legacy; I am proud I chose to uphold it; I am proud I will continue it.
What is your legacy?
What will be my legacy?
It hit me that I have not just taught students, I have taught families. I have taught them to the point they specifically asked for me or their extended family would proudly join my class as soon as they could. They know that once my orchestra babies, they are always my orchestra babies no matter how old they are.
I have not just taught music, I have cultivated an environment of growth, positive support, and confidence through music. I had a former student text me today asking about auditioning for a more difficult group. Before last year he would have hid in the back but in my class he found out he could lead and he started to believe...and now he seeks for ways to find out just how much he can accomplish.
I have not just taught skills, I have taught compassion and a love of life. My former student today wanted me to see her son. Of all the people she could have contacted, I was one of them. She shared her hopes and dreams for the future and she told me about how she couldn't wait to play her instrument for her son.
And it just hit me. This is my legacy. All of these students and their families...I touched their lives in some profound way that was far more important than any one subject or a benchmark. And I am now starting a new legacy.
It was like everything fell into place. While I hated to leave my students, it was the right decision. This is my legacy and my students will carry it on no matter who their teacher is. And staying required trading this legacy for someone else's version of what was important. I chose to stay true to myself, my students, and their families and continue the legacy that has touched their lives.
Strength, Hope, Compassion, Resilience, Reflection, Critical Thinking...I realize now each student took something slightly different from my class, but something deeply important to their humanity. I am proud of that legacy; I am proud I chose to uphold it; I am proud I will continue it.
What is your legacy?