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Second-choice career proves to be life-changing
After I graduated with a bachelor of science degree and had no luck finding related work, my wife encouraged me to return to university to obtain my teaching degree. Although I had doubts about my career choice, I worked very hard and managed to secure a continuing contract.
During those first few difficult years as a new teacher, I began to realize that my teaching strengths stemmed from my interpersonal communication skills. What I lacked in imagination I made up for in humour, storytelling, discussions and building relationships. Having conversations with students became a critical part of my daily routine.
My early teaching assignments often had “difficult” students who struggled in school. Many students thanked me for making the materials more entertaining and easier to understand. In retrospect, I believe that they simply wanted to do better and I provided those avenues for success.
Midway through my career, I was encouraged to take on more leadership roles at both the school and the division levels. I completed my master’s degree in educational leadership and became an elementary school vice-principal. Unfortunately, the role of school administrator did not allow me the interpersonal interaction and the “aha” moments I had enjoyed as a classroom teacher. So back I went as a full-time junior high teacher.
Bound by traditional teaching methods, I managed to create a comfort zone combining old-school pedagogy and classroom management techniques with humour, storytelling and sharing. This gave students opportunities to learn, laugh and express themselves in a setting based on trust and respect. It gives me great joy when students tell me how much fun they have had with their learning (even if it was just math). Over the last few years, many students have told me that their parents were happy I was their teacher, because when I taught them (the parents) so many years ago, I made learning fun and I cared. This is the legacy I hope to leave behind.
Now, as I come to the conclusion of my 30-year career, I realize that it was the student connections I made that guided the career path I followed. It is now those connections that have made my decision to retire so difficult.
Teaching as a career was certainly never my first choice. However, the longer I remained, the more passionate I became about the young people I worked with. I am so very grateful that this career chose me. ❚
Bradley Drader has primarily been a science and math teacher with the Wild Rose School Division for 30 years. He currently teaches Grade 8 science at H.W. Pickup Middle School in Drayton Valley.
