It is that time of year when the "old" students come back for a little visit from the great beyond (college, work, etc.). I enjoy hearing about how everyone is doing. Most of my old students look so grown up and seem to have a new aura about them. It makes me proud to know that I had something, even if it is a tiny little something, to do with this.
But, it never ceases to amaze me how often I hear the same statements - "Mrs. S., college is hard!" or "Mrs. S., it went by so quickly, now I have no idea what to do!" or "Mrs. S., you were right to make me work hard." What I tell my students during class has not changed since I began teaching. I have always told my students they need to work harder, put more effort into everything they do, and great results will come down the pipe. I have always expected my students to work to their full potential and when they don't, there are consequences (as many of you can see now in the form of your grade). Unfortunately, these lessons don't seem to hit home until later, sometimes when it is too late.
What I am trying to say here is that these visits remind me of how insular teenagers can be. I can repeat my words of wisdom until I am blue in the face, but rarely do they make a difference now. Later though, when the world teaches you its lessons, hopefully you will remember that there was the voice in the dark that was crying out to be heard and heeded. Until then, I will continue to retain high standards for my students with the hope that it pushes them to work to their full potential.
28 comments:
I'm aware that college is going to be really difficult and I'm attempting to prepare myself for that, but especially at this time of year, nobody wants to do things anymore. Teachers included, everyone is lazy. This year I think I worked well, but not well enough that I know how college will treat me. I'm kind of scared.
Although you constantly tell us to work to our fullest potential and the result will be great, not all students respond to this saying. When your college students come back to The Bay for a visit and say college is hard, that's probably because it is. I don't think any student realizes the full effect of college or what experiences they will be having until they have gone through it themselves. I'll admit in college I'm sure I'm going to have to work much harder but until I get to college I'm not sure how much harder that may be.
It's always fun when alumni come back because you get to see old classmates and friends. I'd imagine teachers would like to see their old students to see if how they thought the student would be in the future is actually how they are.
I can honestly say that I don't work my hardest, that every piece of work I turn in isn't my best and I don't put forth my best effort. Now, this isn't to say that I don't all the time, just some of the time. It really is unfortunate that my generation, at this point in our lives, don't take our work/education too seriously. It's mostly about fun and games, the social life or the latest gossip. I try to take my 'studies' as serious as possible and I just might get hit in the face in college, but then again who says I'm going to college? Ha, just joking. College is where I need to be, I can't wait to further my career (whatever that may be). As for now, I can only take the extra steps to get me to the top and show my current teachers and future educators that I have what it takes.
Mrs. Stoklosa I agree 100% with you in the fact that no matter how hard you and other teachers try to males us listen we just tune you guys out even though it will come back and bite us in the rear end.
In my family we've had two of my cousins that have dropped out of college because they said it was too hard, this right away tells me that they didn't pay much attetion to those so called "strict" teachers whan all they are trying to do is prepare us for college and the future, because unlike in a classroom in the real world there isn't second chances.
I agree that it is essential that we learn good study habits and work ethic now before it gets too hard. This year I have been trying my hardest to approach everyday with the mentality that I am going to do my best on everything that I do. Hopefully then I will be prepared for college and for the challenges that I encounter after that. All this being said it becomes really hard to remain focused when the summer is creeping down your spine.
That shows that you really do care about what happens to us in the future, by pushing us to our full potential. I don't know if it's just that other teachers don't care or if just don't want to deal with us, but a lot of teachers just accept the fact that a lot of students are lazy and let them do whatever they want. In class we were talking about that one teacher that put a movie on and fell asleep on the desk because they were tired. The expression on your face was priceless. By expecting so much out of us now you are helping to prepare for the future, because in the real world we can't go around sleeping on desks when were tired.
Hopefully what you've taught us this year will transfer to our college study skills next year. I for one am glad to know that I'll be able to annotate and write college essays. That alone is enough to consider this class a success.
I am constantly trying to grasp the idea college is going to be hard. All my teachers repeat it over and over again. I still have my doubts on how hard it will be. They told me in middle school that high school was going to be really hard, it's not. The one thing i am going to try and focus on is balancing parties and school work. If i do that then I'm sure i'll be fine.
Ms. Stoklosa you really forced me to grow up this year and do things for myself. I have never had a teacher that was so passionate about their students working up to their fullest potential. I have never worked so hard in any other class and I'm really not just saying that. I can honestly say that I try very hard especially on the essays because you individually grade them and don't just put a number or letter, rather comments to improve ourselves. You have forced me to become more independent and I have never felt more ready for college until this year. I hope that I will be able to come back and tell you how I'm doing.
I think it is nice to come back and visit those teachers that really influenced and helped you. Most will probably say that it is hard and that you must actually focus. I think it is good that you continue to lay the harsh rules and consequences to get the message through. Kids these days are becoming lazy and not trying their full potential and then realizing it is too late like you said.
i know college is going to be very dificult. I really regret how this year went. Well I dont regret it because towards the middle I brought all my grades up. Well most of them. I dont like not knowing things. I like to have intelectual conversations. I will admit that im very lazy, though. Which is what brings me down a lot.Im so scared about going to college and actually planning out what i want to do in life and everything. I never knew how overwhelming it could get. And im not even a senior. For now, im just trying to keep my grades up and relax.
Some people need to fail in order to change. No matter how much anybody tells them to do something, some people justwant to do the opposite. That is what happened with me.
I learned from my mistakes. As you can see, because I am actually doing the blogs.
I have to say Mrs,S your right i really do appreciate how hard you make us work because my whole day at school is your class even though im just out of it somtimes because i cant focus but your class is the only one that i actually do something.
I don't know if I am ready for college. I hope I get into College though. But I was also thinking about going out of high school to be a fire fighter. Or manage a sports recreation league like you said which i really liked. But if I do get into college. I know it is going to be tough work. It is good that you are making us work to our potential. To get us prepared for college and to show our full potential.
Okay Mrs.Stoklosa you are right about pushing us, but it is hard work that no other class makes us do, all my other classes have "busy" work but none of it is actually challenging, just annoying. But for your assignments I have to rake my brain, which I hate, but I know that it will ultimately be a good thing. My writing ahs tremendously improved over this past semester, all of my old English teachers just made me do work but it was basically based on completion, but you grade on content which does make some people try harder because they do want that good grade. Now im not saying I like the fact that you push us, on the contrary, it actually sucks, but I know that it will be beneficial for us in the future and you are actually teaching us a lot through your class, which is still fun by the way.
I can wait to come and see you when im a cowboy/millionaire/astronaut. It’ll be so awesome and i think that any writing i will be doing in the future will be based on what you have taught me and i hope that it will help me in my college life later on. But il be sure to visit you and let you know how everything went.
I truly appreciate you pushing. I realize its for our benefit and thank you. Some teachers just dont give weather their students succeed or not. Im happy to know I have one teacher who truly cares. I will come back and show you that I have become great!
I know college is going to be hard especially for me because I'm really lazy. I hope next year I get my act together. I've heard that teachers in college don't care as much because they have so many students.
Well I have to say that no matter how much you tell a student to work hard, they are not going to understand what you mean untill they have experienced it themselves and it's time for you to say I told you so. But I don't think this is really a bad thing. It is good for us to learn from experience because that way we will always know how serious it is.
I know that even though not all students take their teachers' advice, it is what is best for them in the end. Teachers have already been through college and know what is expected of the colleges and what you must do to get asccepted and work hard, etc. I know what I learn now I'll be able to use later, it is just a matter of applying it. I just hope I'm not overwhelmed when I enter college.
I know you try to prepare us but some students just don't care. You shouldn't keep stressing, it's our own faults. You've tried your hardest now we just have to put in our efforts.
I think that College is going to be hard, I agree. A lot of people that I talk with say the same thing. People that have gone trough College say that it is very hard, so I'm kinda scared. Highschool teachers "babysit" us, college teachers don't care about our personal lives.
I'm glad that you make us work to our full potential. People who don't know you as a teacher always assume your class is hard, but if you do the work properly it really isn't that difficult. Technically speaking you are one of the only teachers that are actually doing their job. And you say that students come back and say college is hard, well nothing that is really worth getting is easy.
I cannot wait until college, despite the fact that I am almost certain Ill wind up dropping out. Not really!!! I am going to have to change my study habits in a serious way though, I know how I need take school seriously. We both know I am going to party like prohibition is coming back but hopefully some one beats the shit out of me and knocks some sense into me. Thats all i need.
I tend to think that college is all about partying and i tend to forget that I actually have to take classes. Its weird, Im looking to become the next Van Wilder.
College is going to be a very fun and stressful. Its going to be one hell of a roller coster ride. It is going to be tough to manage my time. To spend time partying or spend time studying. I hope to have a good ride
Honestly, im not going to college just yet.
The navy is going to be my first chapter of adult hood. however, i am attending college right after the navy to become a part of homeland security or the fbi.
I actually don't complain or see anything wrong with your method of teaching. It gives us all a taste of the real world. Or, maybe just a little, but every bit counts.
I love this time of the year all my friends from college are back. I don't if they look grown up like you say, they look the same to me. And i doubt that there wiser. lol
It is kind of scary to think about college, but honestly outside of a change in location, I am going to go into it with an attitude that says nothing can break me, I'm going to college to play football and earn my degree. Any and all work that I do will only benefit me later. I guess people just aren't ready to step it up when they get exposed to a serious university.
I know college is going to be hard. But honestly I won’t know the true difficulty level until I’m actually there. I can only prepare for the worst, and assumes that it will be the hardest thing in the entire world and if I don’t study I’m going to fail life completely. Now that I have such high expectations, I have no choice but to feel like it’s not that bad and I will be able to deal with it.
Post a Comment