Called

Called – a poem by Angela Dau, 5^th grade teacher

You probably aren’t cut out for this job. It’s hard. It sucks the life out of you.

You read.

You research.

You tell stories.

You plan lessons.

You analyze data.

You grade papers.

You go to meetings.

You make phone calls.

You worry about your kids.

You listen to stories – lots of them.

You prepare and hold conferences.

You practice lessons the night before.

You go to conferences   just   for   teachers.

You wipe noses, tie shoes, and bandage cut knees.

You figure out how each student in your room learns.

You go back to school to learn more so you can teach better.

You deal with some crabby parents and some pretty great parents.

You are constantly learning something new to try out in your classroom.

You hold students as they sob in your arms because of some pain in their heart.

You watch for signals – Is she sad? Is he frustrated? Did she eat today? Did he get enough sleep last night?

You meet a previous student in the grocery store line and she tells you she’s pregnant – you’re the first to know.

You tell her - Just. Finish. School.    And    she   DOES.

You laugh.

You cry.
You never forget. Not one of them.

You look back at classroom pictures each year remembering.

You give every last ounce of your blood, sweat, and tears for this job. For these kids.

You choose this path – the one less traveled – for a reason greater than

money,

prestige,

or a retirement fund.

You choose him.

You choose her.

You know – the one who thinks he’s not cool enough to be part of “that” group.

You know – the one who doesn’t want to leave at the end of the day because this IS her safe place.

You know – the one who is about to change the world but needs the challenge, 

the push to be the man of integrity he was created to be.

You know – the one who is scared to death to share any of her brilliance except in her journal.

You know – the one who is angry at everything      

but not really.

You provide safety.

You provide acceptance.

You provide encouragement.

You provide challenges.

You provide a place to be seen and valued.

You probably can’t handle this job.

But

if

It calls you

It pulls you in

It grabs you by the heart and won’t let go…

Demanding that you give your life for theirs -

 I

guarantee

you can.