Life Impact

As many of you know, I teach high school.  I love teaching!  The last few years I have taught seniors.  I always enjoy the last few weeks with seniors.  Many teachers will say that it is the toughest time to teach, and it is, but I love observing all the excitement as young adults finish one journey and anxiously talk about the future.  I am so honored to share in such a special moment and know I had a small part in their journey.

As I signed my students yearbooks, I really thought about my words.  The normal “Have a good summer.  See you next year.” didn’t really seem to fit.  What do you say to someone who is about to make one of the biggest transitions in their life? Will my words matter?  Have I made an impact? 

Well, this lead me to a scripture that I read earlier in the year. 

Luke 6:40 “Students are not greater than their teacher. But the student who is fully trained will become like the teacher.” 
 

Wow!  A student who is fully trained will become like the teacher. My words on paper now didn’t seem to matter as much.  Have my words and actions mattered all year?  YES!!  My words and actions fully trained my students to become like me. My job is to teach math, but what else have I taught my students?  Have I been the Christ-like example that I proclaim to represent?

When I had first read the scripture at the beginning of the year, I focused on that I was not greater than my students.  I really tried to focus on “everything is better in teams” with my students.  Now, I wonder how I did on the second part of the scripture.  As I was thinking about what I had taught students, I opened several cards and letters students wrote and gave to me on their last day.  Five students even honored me with a Life Impact Award.  I was overwhelmed to find out just what kind of impact I had made the past year.

Here are a few statements that stuck with me.

“Ms. Gilbert, coming to your class helped make me who I am today.” 
“You not only taught me about math, but about life.”

"You believed in me!"
“ You never gave up on me. “
“You have never given up on us no matter how rude, mean, or grumpy we were.”
“ As I go into the world, I will never forget all the advice you gave me.”
“You taught me to forget things that I held onto for so long.”
“You always knew how to make me laugh.”
“Thank you for always encouraging me and helping me to graduate and start life.”

"I love you with all of my heart and will never forget you."

To many of my students, I seemed to have made a positive impact.  I am not one who accepts affirmation well, but today, I am grateful for words from my students.  My students communicated to me that, at least to a point, I was successful in showing the character of Christ, by bringing and showing wisdom, joy, encouragement, grace, forgiveness, and love to my students.  This has overwhelmed my heart because these things are exactly what I have been learning myself over the last year about the character of Christ. 

My prayer is that my students will deepen their understanding of the gifts I shared, and share them with others.  My ultimate prayer for the future is that I model Christ in every way so that in becoming “like me” means they become to know and be like Christ.