(no subject)
I'm procrastinating my homework a little right now. Because while I really do plan on finishing it, my hand hurts. A lot.
Recently I've actually been seeing the rewards of my teaching. I see some of these kids, before I started with them they didn't even know how to make a fist. Now look at them. Learning katas, sparring like animals. I've seen the shyest kids in class turn into social butterflies, making friends with everyone and all of a sudden befriending the new shyer kids, helping them to stand out. Plus demo? Today I taught a kid how to do a cartwheel. In less than five minutes. I told him during demo that I would work with him after class on it for a while, and a few minutes later he asked when class was going to end. The reason he gave me why was because he wanted to learn how to do one. And once he got it, his eyes lit up and he smiled. Really genuinely smiled and impressed even himself. Its things like that that make you feel good. I love it when I know a kid likes me. I think its thrilling when you walk into a room where your class is going to be and some kids get all happy and excited because your their instructor. It's such a great feeling - being liked. I know nearly every students name in any of the 3 age groups. I love teaching. I love working with kids and explaining to them what to do and why its so important. I'd really like to think that these kids will remember me for the rest of their lives and that I'm teaching them not only karate, but life lessons. I'd like to think that I'm a good role model to them and that some of them want to grow up and be like me. I'd like to think that I show them how to deal with diffucult situations and how to stick with something. I want each one of them to feel the reward of earning their black belt, being up on that stage seeing the lights and blurs of nameless faces and just wanting to cry of joy. The truth is that its impossible that I really do all of this for these kids and that not many of them will even come close to black belt. However, I hope the ones that do remember me and what i did for them.
I realize how dumb this all sounds, talking about the kids I train. Talking about my job with such a passion, but the truth is, I love what I do. And these kids, are so important to me. To be completely honest, these kids have taught me more about myself than I could have seen on my own. Because of my job, because of these kids, I've tried to keep myself as a good role model. Example, if I have sex and get pregnant, what would these kids think of me? What would their parents say and think? I worked damn hard for the respect of these kids and I'm not going to let anything ruin that or the rapport I have with their parents.
To conclude, I love my job. And I love feeling this passion for it.
Everything is marvelous.
Recently I've actually been seeing the rewards of my teaching. I see some of these kids, before I started with them they didn't even know how to make a fist. Now look at them. Learning katas, sparring like animals. I've seen the shyest kids in class turn into social butterflies, making friends with everyone and all of a sudden befriending the new shyer kids, helping them to stand out. Plus demo? Today I taught a kid how to do a cartwheel. In less than five minutes. I told him during demo that I would work with him after class on it for a while, and a few minutes later he asked when class was going to end. The reason he gave me why was because he wanted to learn how to do one. And once he got it, his eyes lit up and he smiled. Really genuinely smiled and impressed even himself. Its things like that that make you feel good. I love it when I know a kid likes me. I think its thrilling when you walk into a room where your class is going to be and some kids get all happy and excited because your their instructor. It's such a great feeling - being liked. I know nearly every students name in any of the 3 age groups. I love teaching. I love working with kids and explaining to them what to do and why its so important. I'd really like to think that these kids will remember me for the rest of their lives and that I'm teaching them not only karate, but life lessons. I'd like to think that I'm a good role model to them and that some of them want to grow up and be like me. I'd like to think that I show them how to deal with diffucult situations and how to stick with something. I want each one of them to feel the reward of earning their black belt, being up on that stage seeing the lights and blurs of nameless faces and just wanting to cry of joy. The truth is that its impossible that I really do all of this for these kids and that not many of them will even come close to black belt. However, I hope the ones that do remember me and what i did for them.
I realize how dumb this all sounds, talking about the kids I train. Talking about my job with such a passion, but the truth is, I love what I do. And these kids, are so important to me. To be completely honest, these kids have taught me more about myself than I could have seen on my own. Because of my job, because of these kids, I've tried to keep myself as a good role model. Example, if I have sex and get pregnant, what would these kids think of me? What would their parents say and think? I worked damn hard for the respect of these kids and I'm not going to let anything ruin that or the rapport I have with their parents.
To conclude, I love my job. And I love feeling this passion for it.
Everything is marvelous.