The Hidden Struggles of Being a Teacher

Every time school is about to start, whether after summer, winter, or spring break, I get bad dreams.

I dream of my students changing, of all the supplies disappearing, of strangers constantly interrupting my class. I dream of a loss of control. And it's scary.

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In reality, I'd say I'm a pretty good teacher. I have a strong rapport with my students, and I work hard to ensure that my classroom is a safe and non-judgmental space. We cheer each other on. We tell funny stories, hunting stories, ghost stories, and more. We recognize each others strengths. We respect each other.

I might not always have the firmest grasp on all my paperwork, but I don't doubt the relationship and family environment that my students and I co-created.

But every damn time, a day or two before returning for a break, I get these nightmares.

One time the school was on fire and I couldn't find the exit.

Another time, I kept getting new students until I had 70 packed in the room.

Once, I kept getting blackmailed by other teachers and one slapped me in the face in front of the class.

And every time, all I could think about was how I just feel like I have zero control.

We Give So Much

My classroom is like my family, my community. When you live in a community of less than 500 people, everyone becomes a relative. When you're walking around town, everyone says hello to you.

It's such a welcoming place here. And I just want to give everything for my students- my kids. Most teachers are like that. We pull the extra hours and set our own personal situations aside; often times forgetting the work/life balance.

But there are elements that are out of our control.

We can only do so much.

And we always try to do more.

Often, it leads to frustration and burn out. But we recharge and we get back in the ring and fight for our students and their hopefully futures.

Teachers are the backbone of society.

Sometimes I think we spend more time with the students than their families do. I mean, we're with them 7 hours (at least) a day, 5 days a week for the majority of the year. And that doesn't include extra curricular activities. And here, it doesn't include all those kids who want to stay longer to hang out; or go for walks in the evening; or berry picking in spring; or ice fishing in winter.

Being a teacher often means being an educator, a parent, a nurse, a counsellor, a shield, and more.

We juggle so many jobs while on the job, and it can be exhausting. Don't get me wrong, it's meaningful work- and we wouldn't get into this profession if we didn't have the right intentions. It's just tiring sometimes. A lot gets thrown at teachers without any prior notice. It's hard to always be on guard.

I suppose the point of all this is just to give you a tiny insight into my teacher career life. A lot of times, most things are out of our control. But we try our best, and we keep going. We have to, our students- your kids- our future- depends on it.

As the new school year rolls in, we’re all going to being going through changes; the students, parents, and the school staff. So let’s be gentle with one another, and remember to show gratitude even with the small things.

Have you thanked a teacher today?

Thank YOU for taking the time to read this. I hope this gave you some insight or even just something to read while you sip your morning tea.

This was originally posted on my Medium account under my pseudonym Poet in the Arctic. I did make a few minor changes in this version.