Being a light for yourself and others is a beneficial and impactful practice in any walk of life, but to me, it is a an essential role to take on as an educator. Being entrusted by a community to raise up and teach the next generation is something that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Every day, 5 days a week, 36 weeks of the year, you are with these students and making changes in each of their lives. Part of ‘being a light’ is being a model for a healthy life both in and out of school. Yes, we are there to educate them on our specific content area, but the education we provide goes far beyond commas and equations. We are a resource for the students who feel they have no where else to turn. We are an encouragement for the students who feel unloved. We are an ear to listen and a shoulder to lean on for the students who need it most. We are a compass for the students who just need help finding their way. We are a light for students to gravitate towards and feel safe near. We are called to be so much more than just another adult in their lives. We are called to show them what it means to be human, and give them the space to figure out how that looks for themselves.
Rachel Melton CO 301D 