Still In Awe...

"The dream begins with a teacher who believes in you, who tugs and pushes and leads you to the next plateau, sometimes poking you with a sharp stick called 'truth.'" -Dan Rather

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to attend the Teachers Of Promise Institute. It was a rather interesting two days, filled with laughter, smiles, inspiration, and occasionally, tears. I guess I should first begin by explaining what this event was. Throughout history, we see various teachers get recognized for what they do. One of the foundations that does this is the Milken Foundation. Well, a group of these teachers, along with other nationally, state, regionally and locally recognized teachers in Virginia decided to begin recognizing the education students they believed were going to be the next great teachers.

Personally, I'm still amazed that I was chosen for this event. Let me put this in perspective for you- most of these students were juniors, seniors and Master's students. They had experience in the classroom and were positive that teaching what was what they wanted to do. I am a sophomore. I have only fully taken one class on Education, and have very little classroom experience. In fact, my classroom experience technically isn't classroom experience because all I've done is tutor two students. That's not classroom experience... not compared to these people.

It's been over 24 hours since the event ended, and my head is still spinning from everything that went on. In less then 24 hours, I met several nationally recognized educators. I "rubbed elbows" with some of the best teachers out there. I was recognized for being a great potential educator (and I'm not even half-way through school!). I learned more about education and how to manage a classroom than I ever expected to. I listened to amazing speeches. And I rubbed the worst blisters ever on my feet (Note to self- buy a pair of good heels).

I'm still attempting to soak everything in. Seriously, my head is spinning, and has been since Friday. How can they expect such high things of me, when I'm not even out of school? Why do they have such faith in me when they barely know me? Do they know something about me that I don't know? What makes them so confident in my skills as a teacher?

I don't know what they see in me. I wish I did. All I know is that I've been though an amazing weekend. And I hope I can live up to their expectations.

"To teach is to touch the heart and impel it to action." -Louis Sullivan