HIGH SCHOOL

High school was a blast for me, but I have surprisingly come to find that the experience for many of my peers was not as positive. I was an extremely involved student who felt the school to be a second home. Class began around 7 am and I would not get home until 6 or 7 pm depending on the day. Whether it was volleyball, soccer, and choir concerts or dance team commitments, NHS meetings, and Mentor obligations, I consistently seemed to be roaming the halls for some reason or another. Being involved helped me to think of my school community as a family, making close ties with my peers as well as teachers.
Since I had such a wonderful experience, I am afraid I have acquired rose-colored glasses to the idea of high school. Have I forgotten what it was like to be a freshman trying to learn the ways of a new school? Even though this reflection helps me to reminisce it will still be difficult to understand where every student is coming from. Naturally I will expect my students to want to get as involved as possible, but I have learned that not all students will have the time or finances to do so.
What gets me most excited about teaching high school students is the potential for making great connections with my students and sharing my passion for art. Sure some of my students may not enjoy art in the same manner, but I am ready for the challenge of inspiring them to see the beauty in learning how to express oneself through aesthetics. I expect that not all students will have the same amount of drive and they their motivation will vary from day to day. High school can be tough and I expect students to have their ups and downs in both their work and emotions.
From the upcoming experiences I think I will learn how to face my fear of not knowing where every student is coming from through personal experience as well as realizing that not every student will be as easy to reach as others. As a nurturing being I want everyone to feel safe and comfortable in expressing themselves no matter their opinion or background and in time I plan to learn the best approach to attain this goal.