Wednesday night, I was happily being lazy when I decided to check my email via my phone (I was too lazy to even turn on the computer).
To my surprise, I discovered a message from one of my students. It went like this:
I am so sorry Ms. AuburnChick, but I’m finding to write a rough draft and study the vocab very difficult and overwhelming, I’m afraid I won’t be able to finish the rough draft, study for my vocab, complete the rest of my assignments, and have a good amount of sleep to be able to function in school. If i do send in my rough draft, it will not be of my best work and will be rushed so im not going to get the most out of your critique. Please try to answer me ASAP
Oh you guys. My heart broke when I read this.
I heard these words in my head, “AuburnChick, you are an overachiever.”
I immediately responded by apologizing for putting too much work on my students’ shoulders. I also told her not to worry about the rough draft but to study for the vocabulary test. I also asked her to spread the word to her fellow students (all five of them).
Her response was one of immense gratitude.
But, her words stuck with me and caused me to look inside of myself.
First of all, I realized that I had made a few mistakes. Namely, I had assigned too much work to my sweet Juniors.
As I reflected, I reminded myself that my students are now taking college classes along with their high school classes.
Added to that was my killer vocabulary test, which I had warned my students to study hard for.
I felt badly for them, and I regretted not praying through my lesson plans before executing them.
Oh, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with the lessons…just the due dates.
And still, I dug deeper.
I recalled a time, many years ago, when I taught Pioneer Clubs at my then-church. I believe I had the third grade girls.
Pioneer Clubs is where kids learn about the Bible, do various activities, and earn badges. It is similar to Girl Scouts.
Well, I had never had experience teaching kids. All I knew was that I had a teacher’s manual, and I was going to follow it to the letter.
Hence, my students worked their butts off.
When we attended the last ceremony, during which the kids received their badges, my kids received more than any other kids.
We had earned nearly every badge there was.
Overachiever.
My mind fast-forwarded to my return to college. I began by earning A’s in my first couple of classes. Hmmm…
I earned A’s in my next term of classes.
Hmmm…
From there on out, it was my goal to earn all A’s.
There were many nights when I was up until 1 or 2am putting the finishing touches on papers.
And then I got up at 6am to take my kids to school and head to work.
Overachiever.
As I faced my students this morning, I did so with a contrite heart.
I apologized mightily for my lapse in judgment.
I felt doubly-worse when two of my students told me they had not received the message from the night before and had finished writing their papers.
Oy.
One of my other students suggested that I give those students bonus points.
It was a generous offer…one I immediately pounced on.
My students were only too happy to accept the ten bonus points, which they used on their vocabulary test since they had put aside their studying to focus on their rough drafts.
Oy.
Overachiever.
I then admitted to my students that I, AuburnChick, am an overachiever. While that might be fine and dandy for me as an individual, it is not okay when talking about a class full of students.
I am not there to stress them out. I am there to challenge them so that they will learn and grow.
I’m not sure that being an overachiever is an altogether bad thing.
Not finding balance is what I did wrong.
Not having the foresight to make a better decision was another thing I did wrong.
After admitting both to my students, we moved on…with me administering their uber-hard vocabulary test.
I am so grateful that God continues to grow me through humbling experiences like this.
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