(no subject)

[aardogs]

This is a really boring post that probably doesn't make a lot of sense. Just some things that have been spinning around in my head. I'll try to keep it interesting by inserting random and unrelated pictures of my dogs.



Sometimes I think about why I want to be successful in (among other things) agility. Of course there is a huge competitive part of me that pushes me to be the best. There is such a thrill to try to push yourself to higher levels. But there is another huge part of me that wants to achieve success so that I can have an impact on other people. Basically this translates to the fact that I want to feel as though I have knowledge to pass on to others. I want to help others achieve success. I want to teach. It is one of my greatest joys in life to feel as though I have made a positive impact (however small) on other people. I think that could be interpreted as a desire for attention. Maybe in some respects it is. But this is a bit odd for me because I don't particularly like getting a lot of attention. I have this weird duality between being a person that tends to shrink into the background of things (quite happily) and being a person that, as mentioned, loves teaching and inspiring and captivating people. I don't consider myself a shy person, but I am generally quiet and unassuming. I lay low in most social situations I am in. I'm perfectly fine being around a ton of people and not saying a word, just enjoying the company of others without feeling like a huge part of the acton. Nope, I am not the life of the party. 



I was teaching agility for awhile. For a lot of reasons including an overall lack of time, I'm not teaching agility right now (I am teaching gymnastics still!) but a big reason is me questioning whether or not I have any grounds to teach at all. Do I actually have knowledge that could benefit others? And if I do, do I actually have the ability to effectively pass on that knowledge? I love teaching when I feel confident about what I'm teaching, but confidence is something that I often lack. 



I don't really know what the point of the this is or if it even has a point. What I am pretty confident about is the fact that I am going to be a teacher. Like, a school teacher. This is a feeling I've had for a long time but don't think about too often. I don't particularly need to focus on that aspect of my life currently; I'll get there when I get there. I just feel, fundamentally, that teaching is what I should do. Its that impact you can have on a person's life, knowing you've played a part in helping someone reach their own success, is something amazing. So many teachers have had such a huge impact on who I am as a person. They are people that I will never in my life forget. They are amazing, inspiring, intelligent, and deeply caring people. I'm really not sure I could ever be that person, but I would really really like to try. 

Comments

[teaguestoy.livejournal.com]

Great post. Teaching is a wonderful (and often draining :) thing to be - I teach at the university here, and often, not always love what I do. I too LOVE helping people see things, or rather, in my capacity, learn to THINK - to open up past what they thought previously - all for the goal of making better engaged citizens, people, friends, community members. AND, it is exhausting - if, like me, you need down time, no-people time, quiet time. I am not what people usually think of as an introvert. I have a very extroverted job, and I can PERFORM extrovert, but I'm not. So, to be a great teacher doesn't require extrovertness - just the ability to be dynamic and set up ways to help people think.

I also have taught agility for the last two years or so, and just recently stopped (like last month). It was a huge hard decision because I have LOVED watching my students blossom. But I was exhausted and always SO rushed. But, and, at times a huge loss. I also worried I had nothing to teach - who the hell did I think I was!!! Shit, Teague and I can't get out of Ex A - yeah, I have a Mach on another dog, but damn, I'm not successful now. But. Students say they really got things from me they just weren't getting from other local trainers - really being pushed and supported to GET there, thinking seriously about where to put their crosses and how to do them super smoothly. So, you DO have things to offer - even when you doubt.

And I'm sorry to seem to turn this into about being me. I didn't know how to reply without being specific and providing examples, as to why I agree that teaching is important. So, pursue your heart's dream - hearts often know best. :)

[sclmarm.livejournal.com]

I too am a teacher, but of elementary students. It is very draining, but very rewarding at the same time. A very worthwhile profession.

Teaching agility can be fun too and I'm sure you have things to offer. You've trained different breeds and different sizes of dogs, which I think is very important. There aren't a lot of people who "get" junior handlers either and that may be an area you could help too.

Good luck!

[aardogs.livejournal.com]

Oh don't apologize, I love hearing about other people's experiences! Teaching is incredibly exhausting, and I haven't even done it that much! Whenever I am teaching I find myself thinking about it ALL the time, obsessing and worrying and wondering about the students and how they feel about my teaching and if they are getting anything out of it and how I can more effectively convey something.

Even though I'm not teaching right now, I still often find myself planning out how I would teach a certain concept, how I would structure a class, or things that I would love to teach. Yeah, I fantasize about teaching! If the opportunity for me to teach comes along I will definitely take it again.

[aardogs.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm hoping I'll be able to get back into it soon. Elementary school, now that's got to be an adventure! I currently teach preschool aged kids and I think they are great, total blank slates and so so smart. Teaching is a whole lot of fun.

[sclmarm.livejournal.com]

They crack me up! They can be a bit frustrating, but for the most part, they are fun. I teach at a small private school and love the small class sizes. You really get to know the kids.

[penichops.livejournal.com]

I wanted to reply to AAR dogs' post last night but I didn't know how to put it. You instead managed to put everything I wanted to say into sensible words, thanks teaguestoy!

So..... pretty much what she said. yeah.

[penichops.livejournal.com]

Can totally understand the obsessing, oh totally understand.

[chardog98225.livejournal.com]

I loved teaching Rally, but the demands placed on me by the person running the program made it a love/hate thing. Two of my best students were a couple who were teachers and they thought I did a good job conveying my knowledge and adpating to the students in each session. I also learned just how many things that I did know about obedience. I didn't think that I really had that much to offer people, but I did...

Dogs are an ongoing learning experience. You will never get two who are the same. Success will be easy with some and an uphill battle with others. Going through this, though, will help you relate to students who have similar experiences. If you've only every gotten a MACH, OTCH, etc. and don't know what it's like to figth a battle with a difficult dog, I actually think you have less to offer than someone who is still working their way up the line and being a student to their own experiences.