When I was younger, something I lacked was a shoulder I could trust to lean on. I carried the burden of my vulnerabilities like Atlas’ condemnation – of hurt, of trust issues, of self-hatred, of imposed solitude that tried to break me down and very nearly succeeded. But from this strain came a strength that I wish to give to my community. I will teach endurance. I will impart a sense of never giving up, holding on to hope and fighting for what my students believe in. My classroom will be a place of freedom and individuality – a place for them to learn who they are in that moment and be able to show the world, while knowing that they have the strength to withstand opposition.

My shoulders can carry the weight of my own world while softening to carry the burden of others. My students will learn compassion. While they will have strong beliefs that, at times, may conflict with the thoughts of others, I will teach them to sympathize with their peers and help when they can. In my classroom and beyond, they will know that they are to stand up for one another, for themselves, and to offer a shoulder to those in need. They will learn to feel what that person is feeling, hold it, accept it, and take some kind of action. Compassion has been proven to decrease bias toward others, decrease migraines and emotional tension, and increase grey matter in the brain. To be compassionate is to be mindful.

My shoulders can soften for the pain for others while reflecting the emotions in my community. How a student stands or sits will allow me to recognize when they are not okay. Hunched shoulders, constant shrugs and low set posture can point to insecurities and vulnerabilities. I will strive to keep them all standing tall by demonstrating how I stand tall. My students will learn empathy. They will learn to be critical thinkers, take the chance to look at situations from all angles to help choose the right path. Empathy will help me make connections with my student’s parents. To see where they are coming from when we speak about their child’s progress, to understand that there are limitations, to offer support where it is possible, to give suggestions when the struggle is present in the conversation.

My shoulders can reflect emotions while shifting and supporting to fit all needs. I will be flexible. The shoulder is a complex combination of bones and joints where many muscles act to provide the widest range of motion of any part of the body. A classroom is a complex combination of personalities, cultures, past experiences – and like my shoulders, I will need a full range of motion to work with the students of my future. A key piece to teaching, as far as I have learned, is flexibility.

My shoulders are my endurance. My shoulders are my compassion. My shoulders are my empathy. My shoulders are my flexibility. My shoulders are the best part of me.