Passing It On

 One of the things I have been proudest of about winning Teacher of the Year is being able to select a graduating senior who is going into education to get a $5000 scholarship courtesy of Kids First Education.  After looking through the applications, I selected someone, and we all went to lunch at Weidmann's today to celebrate the award.

The application process asked each candidate to write a brief essay talking about their connection to teaching.  The winning student's essay related that she is, like me, a child of teachers.  As we had lunch today, so many things she and her mother shared struck familiar chords.  

Even though she is at the beginning of her career, I can already tell she is going to be a good teacher. She has that undefinable something, that aura of calmness and strength that teachers share with healthcare professionals and other "people-heavy" fields that so often means the difference between staying in the job and leaving.  This young lady is also going into the profession knowing what it is, at least as much as anybody can before they are alone in the room behind the big desk themselves.  I think those of us who grow up with educators in the family approach teaching differently.  We have no less enthusiasm for what we do, but I tend to believe we are not taken quite so much by surprise by some aspects as those who come to it from other places. 

I'm glad that in whatever small way I can help this student on her way to her own classroom.  I have been helped by so very many people along the way that to be able to pass on any portion of that grace is a gift to me as well.  Best of luck to her as she heads into what I hope will be a long and happy teaching life.