I Started Teaching

Studying English was a dream of mine for years. Since I was twelve I've wanted to be a writer. Maybe it was the fact that I was used to being poor that I didn't really mind the idea of continuing to be poor. Really, it was a miracle I was even able to attend college (a Miracle named Carol), but then to throw it away on an education that would never bring money, well I'll be the first to admit that was probably a foolish decision. If majoring in something I hate was all it took to bring in money, I would have studied Pre Med. What deterred me from this (besides having no scientific abilities) was that it wouldn't just be college. Whatever I studied in college would become my life - so with the blinding passion of Lord Byron, I ignored the "smart" thing and began studying English. I have officially declared that my best decision in life, apart from the Oreos I had last night. Sure, it was difficult, and it might not pay off, but it was the most fun I've ever had. I didn't even know I liked education before I started studying English.

The jokes were nonstop, and heck, I cracked half of them.  "What are you going to do when you graduate?" I hated that question. Obviously, I would do the same thing every English major does when they graduate - move in with their parents and "write." I say write with quotation marks because it rarely means sitting down at a typewriter and punching out a book draft. Oh no, first there's research to be done, followed by pacing, playing with a stress ball, and who knows how much self loathing. And then there's the "studying" which ought to be called pleasure reading. "But I'm examining the writing style and-" yeah shut up. That's a lie and you know it.

By some freak accident I ended up with an actual job after graduation. I was almost disappointed that I wouldn't get my three years of jobless mooching while I "found my style." However, I was excited to jump at the opportunity to teach the very thing I had studied, and as a bonus I would finally get to travel.  Needless to say, anyone who had given me grief about my major was surprised (this was mostly me).

So here I am, an English degree in one hand and a piece of chalk in the other. It's strange to be called teacher. It's strange to have people come to you for answers. When I look around the room I get a little nervous and excited and sleepy (because instant coffee sucks). But I smile brightly and say, "Hello class, I am Taylor Swanby, your math and science teacher."

That's right. I am currently acting as a math and science teacher. Mind you, I have not used math since my senior year of high school, thanks to Running Start. Now, all of a sudden I'm supposed to teach these kids subjects that I can barely recall. Oh, but it gets better. I also teach Career Studies on a Canadian curriculum. Clearly, I am not the best man for the job, and normally I would have said "no way," to this position. However, it was so hilarious that I just couldn't turn it down. I mean, I was so adamant about studying English that I discarded math as soon as possible, and here I am teaching it to high schoolers.

Before you worry too much for the youth, I am not actually their math teacher. I am their English math teacher. I am simply teaching them concept they already know in foreign terms (where as I am teaching foreign concepts in terms I already know). Even so, I only took this position knowing it was a temporary thing while they wait for another teacher to arrive.

Somehow I've made it through a week and a half of teaching these subjects, and it's been busy. At times, I find myself enjoying it. Yet, the fun moments cannot cover the fact that I am just not good at math. I would much rather be teaching language, and once the new teacher comes I will begin teaching conversational English.

This is just a taste of the craziness that has happened thus far on my trip. I'm definitely learning a lot about myself as a teacher, and I'm hoping that by the end I will have "found my style." Of course, who knows what I'll be teaching by then.