On our second Friday off in May, I had the privilege of being the speaker at the Education Commissioning Ceremony at Oklahoma Wesleyan University.
I was extremely excited to be able to share some of my thoughts on being a teacher with all of the new education graduates, but I was also extremely nervous!
This post is the speech that I gave and I apologize for it being a bit long and without pictures.
Thank you so much for the honor of speaking at this year’s Education Commissioning Ceremony. It seems as though it was only moments ago that I was in your place; excited about becoming a “real” teacher, nervous about finding my first job, but mostly, just relieved to have finally finished my portfolio. Congratulations to those of you who have made it this far. You have accomplished so much.
As I thought about what I wanted to share with you today, I could not help but ask myself what I would have wanted, or even more importantly, what I would have needed to hear as a college graduate looking to become a new teacher. What truths served, and still serve, as anchors for me along my journey as a teacher? What are those things that I have held on to when the going gets tough, the days are long and the homework that needs to be graded just keeps piling higher and higher? Because it is during these times, that if there is nothing to hold on to, then this profession that we call teaching seems all too impossible.
Truth #1: God will place you just where He needs you.
