I have taught nearly 9 years so far. Each one of those years I have taught in a Catholic school. Eight of those years were in a high school setting and one in a grade school. This is year 10 and my 2nd year in a grade school. Each year I feel more and more blessed to have the opportunity to do 2 things: 1. Educate my students…and 2. Share my faith with my students.
Educating my students is a top priority for me. The Catholic school setting allows me to touch on topics where I can show God’s true presence in their lives more deeply. I am able to take a few moments each day and reflect with my students about how God has truly blessed them and help them see Jesus in everyone. I am excited to see my students grow in their faith when they start to see how they live the Corporal Works of Mercy through serving others. When I stop and have a reflection with them regarding an important topic and they explain how prayer and God made them stronger so that they could get through a difficult situation makes me a stronger Catholic. I’m inspired by the faith of my students and I hope I inspire them as well.
Working in a Catholic school does have many challenges and sacrifices. Yet, each challenge and sacrifice is a blessing. I look to these as ways that I can grow my faith. Perhaps I don’t go out as often…perhaps I look at what I have and find a new way to repurpose it into something my students can use. I’ve made social sacrifices, but I have also grown my creative skills. I know I can do more to help my students grow in their faith and I’m ready to keep pushing myself to make sacrifices to help them grow.
I’ve truly learned what it means to be a “Man for Others” during my 4 years at my Jesuit high school, but now living the motto makes me understand what it means. I am proud to say that I am a teacher and even more proud to say that I am a Catholic school teacher. Being a Catholic school teacher has been a great journey. I have so many teachers to thank for making me the Catholic I am today and inspiring me to be the Catholic teacher I am today.
Cottos Corner for Education 