One of my favorite things about being a new mom is introducing my son to my many traditions, like rewatching some of my favorite childhood movies. Just last week, I decided to dive into a true cult classic, and one that always brings tears to my eyes since the first time I watched it.
Matilda.
From little Lavender to Ms. Honey, it had all the things that filled a young girl with endless wonder; magic, mischief, friendship, and a teacher who saw the light in you when others sought to dim it.
As I grew older and began to watch this tale with “new” eyes, it also taught me just how detrimental it can be to our self-acceptance when we’re planted in the wrong soil. In a family of unethical used car salesmen, her environment lacked all the things a young Matilda needed to flourish…until she met Ms. Honey. In her, she found the right foundation, the right sun, and the right nurturing to give those blossoming seeds a chance to become something truly beautiful; a blueprint I’ve emulated since becoming an adjunct professor some 3 years ago.
When I first started out, I remember tapping a few professor friends who offered some “quick tips” on how to make the most of the opportunity without burning out or overly extending myself: limited office hours, the same comments on each student evaluation, and a clear role distinction so the students never assume you’re their friend. But something about that advice didn’t sit well with me. It felt nothing like the person who’d spent the better half of her 20s and 30s mentoring young women around the world, and it definitely didn’t sound like the kind of teacher I knew I wanted to be.
So despite being told otherwise, I led with my heart by:
– Bringing real-world experience into the classroom and ditching the textbook
– Encouraging participation by gently prompting and sparking conversation
– Praising students who’ve tried even if they were incorrect at first and coaching them to land on the right answer
– Understanding each of their learning styles and adapting as necessary
– Asking a lot of questions and actively listening to what my students have to say
– Checking-in and checking on my students often
– Making myself available for 1:1 office hours
– Providing tailored feedback with specific recommendations for improvement
Whether due to my own family, or the very large village that surrounded me and took me under their wing, I always knew and deeply understood that the success of a child was as a result of those around them. They showed me that you didn’t need an official title to be a mentor, or to leave a positive mark on a child’s life.
These teachers—in real life and fictional tales—taught me that children, no matter their age or relation, deserved to know (and feel) that they mattered; that we saw them beyond their age and circumstances, and saw value and worthiness in the person they were in that very moment, and had the ability to be.
With just a few weeks left in the semester, I plan to wrap up my last class, leaving my final remarks overrun with emotions. I truly love what I do, and have all intentions to stick around for as long as George Brown College will have me. Maybe I’m new and still wide-eyed in comparison to some veterans, but I believe this approach has been the reason why I’ve performed so well both in internal evaluations and websites like Rate My Professor.
Every time I sit down in front of those young minds who, whether they show it or not, are ready and eager to learn, I know that my energy and enthusiasm has the ability to shape their perception of the world around them, as well as the person they choose to show up in it as. And it’s a position I will never take lightly.
I’ve never been one to shy away from talking about the learning difficulties I encountered as a kid. They were the cause of many painful nights, trying my best to absorb the material only to fail yet another exam. But while I often found myself overcome with defeat, my saving grace was in the few teachers who praised me for my efforts, not condemned me for my final grade.
We can all recall the teachers who had this kind of impact on our lives. They saw a seed stagnant in barren soil, and rather than discard it, they chose to repot it and give it a new chance at life. And we all have the ability to have the same impact on those around us. From the way we carry ourselves in the world to the unbiased ear we lend to a young person in need, we have the power to shape the minds of tomorrow, and we don’t have to step into a single classroom to do it. I know that I can’t dismantle the system, but I also know that I can leave an indelible mark on one classroom, one student at a time. We all can. Let us all be the Ms. Honey in a young person’s life as we help them add color to their wildest dreams.
A BIT ABOUT ME: Hi! My name is Pauleanna Reid. I’m the founder and chief storyteller at WritersBlok where I lead an all-women of color team of celebrity ghostwriters. As a collective, we help industry leaders and doers who are shaping the future turn their personal stories into brand assets so they can stay relevant in a noisy world, communicate to their audience at scale, and turn any conversation into a meaningful and profitable lead. Clients truly trust me with their reputations and their legacies. In fact, when they want to speak up on a hot topic and shake the room, I’m the woman they call. Many of them have me on speed dial, why don’t you?