We were asked the same question, and each person was to respond as best as they could. We were meant to be genuine, but enthralling. Give the "right" answer without it being textbook or seemingly insincere. And then came the dreaded question. They question I hate to answer more than any other question: who was your favourite teacher?
Now, don't get me wrong here, I have loved many many many of my teachers. My whole world has been school for the past 18 years and that has largely been due to the many amazing teachers I have come across. But as we went around the room, my fellow almost-teachers told stories of immense academic and personal struggles. Of teachers who spent countless hours counselling them through chemistry, or willing them to pass Grade 12 English. And I took this opportunity to quietly spiral with anxiety because I don't have a favourite teacher.
I have had many amazing teachers. From those who let me stay in for recess in the cold Manitoba winters, to those who found me a bathroom buddy when I was the new kid. I had teachers who mixed Romeo and Juliet studies with popular song lyrics of the time, or forces us to read Science Fiction novels until we loved them. I had teachers who threw socks (and sometimes other things) to get our attention, and teachers who cried when you gave them a Thank You card at the end of the year. I had a lot of great teachers.
So how do you choose your favourite? I honestly don't have a favourite (which I did say in room, it was not well received). You're supposed to pick one. One person who's impact was so grand that you decided to be a teacher yourself.
So here is my one person. Her name was (and is for that matter, she will outlive us all) Ms. Janzen. She was not nice. She was not particularly engaging. She was often angry (I remember one particular instance where someone put Scotch tape over her laser mouse. It was not well-received.) She did not spend extra time with me, helping me when I struggled. She did not smile and nod as I explained to her my story. She was not particularly patient at all. What she was, was knowledgeable. I learned more about politics her class than any other (and this was Grade 9 here people). But most importantly, I learned how to write. I learned about grammar and punctuation. I learned about proper paragraphs and content. I learned that you need to actually say something, not just fill your lines with fluffy words that mean nothing. I learned how to reflect, to have a narrative. I learned to have a heart, even if she didn't always want to share hers. Ms. Janzen taught me how to work hard. Because life sucks. And life is hard sometimes, even a lot of the time. You work and you work, and then you're done for a minute and then you work again. But you know what? Hard work can feel really good. Really really good.
And I know now that my teaching philosophy does not match hers. I do believe in spending time with your students, and loving and caring for them. I think there is a lot of room for joy in the classroom (as I'm sure you're all sick of me writing about :)). But you also need to build some skills that will be used for the rest of your life. And you need to learn to work, really really hard.