From Katie

In just a little less than a month I will be back on a plane traveling to my home

sweet Benque,Belize. There is a much different feeling this summer as to last summer's

 

nerves, joys, fears, and excitement. This summer has been much more peaceful and quiet.

I know more of what to expect when I go down there. I know that I can expect a pile of

ants in my house everyday all day. I know some nice cockroaches will greet me when I

walk in the door. Other than that, however, I do not know what this year will hold. I can

only take another leap of faith and trust in the Lord.

When I think about going back to my students, to the school, to the parish, and to

our community I am filled with nothing but joy and peace. I have been blessed to develop

some great friendships in Belize and am looking forward to seeing everyone again.

I also know how to better approach a classroom with 30 tenth grade boys. Last

year I would think to myself, “If I just love themand show themI am nice, they will respect

me and listen to me.”RIGHT. These kids,while great, do everything but listen to their

teachers, especially if they are too nice. One of the priests in Belize, Father John, once was

talking to me about teaching.He toldme that these kids,while they do need a LOTof love,

what they need sometimesmore is tough love. Evenwhen I think back to when Iwas in

school, the teachers I respectedmost and looked up to the most were the ones who

demanded the most out of me. I knewthey still cared for their students and that they only

pushed us because they knew what we were capable of. I KNOWmy students are capable

of greatness and I want to challenge that this school year. Iwant them to know that they

are loved. I want them to know that they can be anything.I want them to know that

someone believes in them. I want them to be who theyare meant to be.

Here's a little side story of a teaching experience I had last year. One day I was

asked to substitute for one ofmy tenth grade (2nd form) boys classes. I had already taught

this class earlier in the day and I had already gone in that class twice that that day. So by

now these boys have seen enough of me for one day and they decide to see how far they

can go. For the class I was subbing they had a lot ofwork that they could be doing and I

made sure they knewthat. Some of the boys did not think that what I said applied to them

and decided to walk around the classroom and do whatever theypleased.Unfortunately for

the poor souls I was not in the mood for letting them do whatever theywanted. In a firm

and loud voice Imade an announcement that the next person who got our of their desk

would get their butts glued to their chair. As soon as those words came out of my mouth I

knew Iwas done for. If I said it, I had to follow through with it. Sure enough, some did not

believe me and decided to continue to walk around. The next think I know, I am in the staff

room asking if anyone had glue I could borrow. Their homeroom teacher happened to be

sitting there and gave me glue. She gave me a look wondering what the heck I would need

the glue for. I quickly told her what Iwas doing and she gave me one of those smiles like

she wished she had thought of that idea before. I walked back into the classroom and up

to the boy and made him get out of his seat so I could put the glue in it. Mind you, all it is is

Elmer’s glue that comes out. He could not believe Iwas actually going to do this to him, but

at the same time he knewI meant business. For the rest of the class there was not a

rooster to be heard. For the rest of the school year I also found that class had a lot more

respect for me and we were still able to have a lot of fun.