The Consequences of Trying
"Miss, sometimes you try too hard." I didn't really have a response for this student because I was trying to decide if it was a compliment or an insult. And what exactly he was trying to say... "Sometimes you try too hard to get us to like you." "Sometimes you try too hard to make us learn." "Sometimes you try too hard to make your class fun." "Sometimes you try too hard to make us think about the world around us." Well, I'm sorry if my students think that any of those are a bad thing. And I'm sorry if at this point in my life I pour my heart and soul into being a good teacher. But my apology is only for one person really- myself. My student was right. Sometimes I do try too hard. I'm trying my best to beat my best every day of my life. And not just with teaching. I'm trying hard to beat my best in every aspect of my life: teaching, running, exercise in general, relationships, writing, reading. I wake up...