You're
stronger than you seem;
Braver than you believe;
and smarter than you think you are.
~Christopher Robin in Winnie the Pooh
e-mail me at: sueseaq3@aol.com
Philosophy of Life Paper
Suzanne Reifschneider
ENG 479 Writing in Secondary Schools
November 18, 2002
the footprints on my heart…
You see them all over. You hear their ever-present and engaging conversations as you walk quietly by. You see their hopeful, melancholy and devastated expressions on their faces. You pay them meaningless “thank yous” when they hold open a door for you. You sometimes mutter the impersonal “how are yous” and not even listen, or care for a reply because you know they all say the same thing—“I’m just fine”, “I’m alright”. But who are these individuals? Just people? Yes—but each one of them has the potential to change my life, my way of thinking or my ideas. All I have to do is let them into my world.
When thinking about writing my own philosophy of life, my initial and honest reaction was something like, “What do I have to write about. I’m just one person.” Turning to my reliable journal, I began to search my journal to see what I really believe as rooted in my writings. I was surprised to find that on almost every page, in almost every entry, I mentioned the importance of people in my life. Along with writing about inspiring people, I also found that I write down a lot of quotes that make me think about relationships and life in general. The really pertinent ones I write in several places, including the cover of my journal for myself to see each day. It is ironic as a look around my room; the same quotes occupy the space on my walls. People, along with phrases, run through my mind constantly, which leads me to an inevitably greater understanding of myself. When combined, these things have molded me into the unique person I am and the exceptional, caring educator that I wish to become.
“You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person.” ~Anonymous
Thank you dad. Thank you Mrs. Winter. Thank you Mr. Sotnyk. Thank you Mrs. Barnes.
Today
“I could not believe my eyes. I have just written that I had nothing
to write about because I was only one person. I thought for a split second
that I mattered little to others. I thought of myself as insignificant.
After all, I haven’t made any important contributions to society,
won any medals or discovered a cure for cancer. Then I came across this
quote written several times in my journal.”
Looking back on the important influences in my life, I immediately picture my father in my mind. His iridescent blue eyes. His dark brown hair with the premature gray around the edges. His warm, bright smile. His statue-like tower presence. His Velcro shoes. His black suspenders. His love. Sure, he may not be a famous thinker, have gone to far away exotic places like you read about in magazines, or discovered a cure for cancer either. To others, he just might be a tool and die worker from the small “hick” (I use that term gently) town of Baroda, Michigan, who has a long, unpronounceable last name. He does not read the great “classics” and I have never seen him write an analytical essay. Nonetheless, he has taught me one of the greatest lessons of life, not the kind a college can give you. He has taught me that our relationships with people are what matter the most. He tells me, “Be nice to everyone you meet. Always acknowledge those you know and those you don’t. Either you are their friend all the time or not at all. Never burn bridges.” He has encouraged me to make relationships and get to truly know everyone I meet because “a person can never have too many friends”.
My father’s lessons have moved from my personal life experiences and into my professional goals. My father is only one individual, but he has made a major difference in my life. One day I hope that even one of my students can say that about me. I believe that a teacher needs to reach out to each of their students and get to know as many as they possibly can. Looking back on my past teachers, the one I remember are the ones who took the time to get to know me and help me with music, geometry, or writing. They discovered my talents and shortcomings and worked with both in mind.
“WORK like you don’t
need the money…
LOVE like you’ve never been hurt…
and DANCE like no one is watching.”
~Ray Denning
Thank you Tom. Thank you Chris. Thank you Mrs. Wrobleski.
“So why do I want to be a teacher? I want to be able to help children recognize their potential and realize that they can be anything, and do anything, if they put their minds to it. When a teacher can touch the life a child, that is the most gratifying moment a person can experience. The pubic has it wrong today. It is not the CEO’s of companies or the investment bankers that are rich. The richest people in the world are teachers. Teachers receive gratification, fulfillment, inspiration and a sense of importance from their students everyday. What other career is out there which possesses all of these things, in addition to a daily sense of having made a difference? To me it is not the amount of the paycheck that counts. It is the amount of knowledge, confidence and support that one gives a child that truly makes a person wealthy.” (Why I Want To Be A Teacher, ED 300, June 12, 2001)
I remember listening to several teachers while in high school that were discussing their paychecks. One made a comment about that they could not even remember why they got into the teaching profession in the first place. Another said, “I only have this teachin’ thing as a side job. There is no money in it. But the benefits are really great being a teacher.” Sadly, this teacher was not talking about being allowed to influence so many lives of young people. She was talking about retirement benefits.
Thankfully, only a small portion of the teachers I have had through the years had this mindset. Once again the truly great ones were the ones who were doing what they loved. I could tell they loved their subjects, loved school, and most importantly loved their students. When I think about it, I do not want to be rich and remembered by people I do not know. I want to be remembered as a good teacher—remembered by students I did know and care about.
Life is funny sometimes. I can remember a bad breakup I had once, in which I thought that I would never feel the same way for another person. I guess one could say that I felt my life was over. Looking back, I now realize that it was probably one of the best experiences in my life because it taught me not to fall in love or trust someone too quickly. I learned to embrace the positives intertwined with the negatives. If you take the chance and love someone, you could be awarded the best love of a lifetime or the biggest heartbreak of your life. It is an experience that I had to endure in order to go on living life.
In the same way, the teachers who cannot remember why they became teachers might choose to embrace the negatives of teaching, instead of embracing the positives. They might view all their students in a bad light because of one student they had two semesters ago. It is expected that not all my students will be hanging on my every word, or paying attention to my brilliant lectures, or say they love my lesson plans because they adore Madeline Hunter. I have been trained to believe that some students will act out and cause me some occasional grief. I realize this, but I chose to look more at the positives I see my students doing. For example, did Billy improve on his reading skills or did Mary write with her own voice?
I believe that people need to do what they love to do. I love to read, write and work with children, so I want to be a teacher. I plan on using the good qualities of my past teachers and encompassing them into my own personal teaching style. I understand that I may teach Huckleberry Finn different that Mrs. Wrobleski in Room 209, but that is ok. I write like me. I will teach like me.
Kisses aren’t contracts
and presents aren’t promises…
and even sunshine burns if you get too much.
So plant your own garden and nourish you own soul…
instead of waiting for someone to buy you the flowers. ~Anonymous
Thank you Emelee. Thank you Robert Rozema.
“Emmy, make this movie play. Come on! I am going to tell ma if you don’t. Emmy! Emmy!”
“Suz, I showed you have to do this a million times. I’m not doing it for you again!”
“Emmy I’m going to tell ma and you are gonna gets yourself in some trouble!”
“You will never learn how to do something until you do it yourself. This is the last time I’m showing you.”
One of the greatest gifts that my sister Emelee taught me was how to do things for myself. At one point in my journal, I write about the time when I was unable to work our VCR at home. I did not want to do things for myself, because it was easier for others to do things for me. Throughout life I have learned that what my sister told me when I was five, still applies today.
When I become a teacher, I want my students to hold onto my sister words. I want them to know that I am here to help them in any way I can, but I will not do the work for them. I can show them how things are done in the right way. I want to teach them how to bring their unique voices out onto paper and write like themselves. A favorite book of mine says, “if you teach a person to fish they’ll eat for a lifetime.” My ultimate goal would be for them to share what they learn with others—in a sense creating a cycle.
Recently, while here at Western, I was given the assignment to create a stunning, exciting and creative website. I was utterly terrified. Never before in my life have I enjoyed working with computers and I am not very fond of trying new things—especially involving technology. Based on my experience in other classes, I expected the instructor, Robert Rozema to allow class time to walk the class through how to use Dreamweaver, a program used to create web pages. Much to my dismay, he told us that we had to experiment with the program on our own. Luckily, I visited the Instructional Technology Lab in Sangren Hall and received some assistance. Much like the lesson my older sister taught me, these people instructed me on how to do certain things and after nineteen hours, I completed a stellar website. They gave me the push I needed in the form of information. Not only did I learn how to do things for myself, I also was able assist others, who in turn could help more people. And so the cycle continues…
“To everything there
is a season and a time and purpose under heaven.
A time to be born, a time to die. A time to plant, a time to uproot.
A time to build up, a time to tear down. A time to weep and a time to
laugh.
A time to speak, a time to be silent. A time to love and a time to hate.”
~Ecclesiastes 3
Thank you mom.
Mom’s ingredients to “be good”
10/30/02
5 doses of sitting still in church
3 attempts of using the bathroom before we leave
1 day of not creating piles of junk
1 spoonful of roast beef and green beans
4 chances of putting on a coat before going outside
4 doses of speaking when you are spoken to
1 try at sisterly love
1 attempt to make it to the bathroom before getting sick
1 day of practicing piano without being told too
12 opportunities at trying to pour pop without splashing
2 tries at not getting our “school clothes” dirty
Mix above ingredients in moderation with occasional mischief and fun activities. Be sure to keep under close supervision and always say reminders “to be good, drive nice, wait till your father gets home and to call.” Recipe takes over 21 years to be completed and might need some additional time thereafter.
When thinking of other people who really had an impact on my life and who continue to impact my career, I envision my mother. Mom always has engrained into my personality that there is a time and a place for everything. I owe so much to this woman. For example, she taught me one of my prized possessions, that is a work twenty-one years in the works…the LOOK. Everyone has seen a similar one. It is a look one gives to tell another, “Hey, knock it off NOW! I wouldn’t do that again! Try me!!!” After seeing hers for countless hours, I feel that I have mastered one similar to hers. My eyebrows go down at a curious angle as my lips tighten. I can feel the tension in my forehead. Now that I have my “look” I plan to keep it safe in storage until I need it. Every teacher needs to have one-- I just had a head start on creating mine.
“Do what you can, with
what you have, where you are.”
~ Teddy Roosevelt
Thank you to the people I see, but try
to ignore.
Thank you to the people who do not want me to feel bad for them.
October 15: Today, as I was walking into Sangren Hall, I saw her again. I have seen her all over campus. The same pity comes over me. I feel for her more than usual because of the cold rain. I try not to stare at her, for I know that she gets that a lot. I saw her just about every Tuesday and Thursday last semester. I give her credit because she always has a smile on her face. Why? I don’t know her name. Today is going to be different. I race through the rain to get ahead of her. I see her coming as the rain drips from her long black hair. I try to open the door for her, but she chooses to open her own door. It would have been easier for her to go through the one I had open, but for some reason, she made an attempt to open her own door. At first I was offended and thought she was rather rude. If sometime opens a door for you, you go through it. But not her. As I look ahead, she is the one holding another door for me.
As you look at people, it is natural to be envious of some, feel sorry for others, and wonder how some can be happy in the predicament they are in. I have seen this girl many times. Never once have I asked her name, but she has made a big difference in my life. I have understood that it does not matter what a person cannot do. What matters is that they do with what they can do. This girl cannot walk, but that does not stop her from smiling in the rain, or helping a stranger. When I become a teacher, I want to be able to point out the positives in my students, to show them that they can all do something. Obstacles are just that--obstacles. Obstacles are meant to be overcome. I know that I cannot expect to change the world as a teacher--but if I can change the life of one child, it would all be worth it.
“A happy memory is a
joy forever.”
~Anonymous
Thank you grandma. Thank you to everyone who remembers the good.
April 17, 1990
Anna B. Falak
Here lies my loving grandmother
Full of spirit and grace
Whose love for her family will remain always in our hearts
Who told us each moment was an incredible gift
And taught us to see the good in everything and everyone
While telling us to keep our backs straight and our shoulders high,
She taught us to believe in ourselves and love one another.
Grandma is still here in my heart, never forgotten, always remembered.
My guardian angel.
My grandma was one of those people that you hope everyone has the chance to have in their lives one day. I hope to be half the woman that she was, both in my personal life and my professional one. She made each day count and matter for something. She was selfless and put others before herself. Even her last day on this earth was spent worrying about my family and my.
My grandma told me that not everyday is going to bring sunshine. Sometimes it needs to rain. In life, I know there will be days that I am discouraged and want to quit teaching. But I will always remember my good days. The days when a student tells me something positive or tells me I made a difference. When I was in elementary, junior and high schools, it was not until years later that I realized that a teacher helped me in some way. Not every student will call me his or her favorite. All I want is to make a difference in the life of one.
Definition of A Successful
Life
To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people
and the affection of children
To earn the appreciation of honest critics
and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others
To leave the world a bit better
Whether by a healthy child, a garden path or a redeemed social condition
To know even one life has breathed easier
Because I have lived.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
footprints…
One day I will enter my first classroom and see my students for the first time. My only wish to remember what others have taught me and embrace those lessons into my teaching.
At this point in my life, I realize that everyone I meet has the ability to change me, my outlook or my way of thinking, if I let them in. What would happen if I said more than my occasional empty “thank yous, how are yous, just fines”? Relationships that are formed with others are precious. I am who I am because of individuals in my life and thoughts that captivate my mind. Everyone I meet makes footprints on my soul and I am different than I was before I allowed them in.
some people come into my life
and quickly go.
others stay a while and leave footprints on my soul
and I am never the same.
~Anonymous