Kids will inspire you if you allow them.
For the longest time, I didn’t even want a TikTok account to watch. Then I was uncertain about the content I’d create there.
On this blog–originally “A Word or More” about writing and now “Season of Corrie” following the sudden death of our five-and-a-half daughter–I’ve focused on the craft of writing, then the raw emotions after Corrie graduated to heaven, and now finding inspiration through grief’s journey.
I’ve never written nor created content for the number of views or followers as my eighth grade students have often discussed ways to add more likes and audience to their TikTok accounts and Instagrams. Who is more influential? Who has the best content?
Other than the blog, I’ve often withdrawn both on social media and in public because I felt there wasn’t much I could offer. Every journey has a way of teaching us differently.
I’ve tried to pour my best words and influence into my eighth graders and son, a rising eighth grader, in person. A few have said that I should consider becoming a life coach or travel around the country making speeches.
Other adults have often questioned my sanity in my choice to teach eighth grade. They’re teens, disrespectful, immature, and stuck on their phones. While you do see some of that, you’re never bored. If you invest in your teens, then they will pay you back more than you can ever imagine.
I wouldn’t teach any other age group. Eighth graders/ teens need more support than you could ever imagine. I haven’t always had a solid landing as a teacher. I hope to make an impact, but I’ve also faced personal turmoil during the past four years with a tornado, Corrie’s sudden death, and John’s cancer.
The challenges middle and high school students face are more extreme than when I attended some time ago. Social media can provide them a negative or positive environment. I’ve found laughter and positive energy from creators on TikToks, and found some garden creator favorites.
I don’t possess a great desire to discuss education much on any platform because of the pushback from different directions I, as a teacher, might receive. I grow tired with each passing year, but it’s not because of the students. The kids are the reason I’m still in the profession.
I can look around through the years, since Corrie graduation to heaven, and pinpoint moments when I felt my worst after work from a trigger. I can remember feeling the responsibility of Corrie’s death and that moment after something very specific, and it would knock me back for a few days or weeks.
But I also identify more inspirational moments than bad when my students or co-workers became a super hero, and they never knew it. As cynical as I am sometimes, I truly want my students to never give up. I want them to achieve their dreams with a dose of reality. That’s part of being a middle school teacher.
My students have reminded me again and again why I still do this profession. They inspired me to start creating content about the gardens. They’ll probably never know just how much I appreciate them.
Content by R.A. Bridges, 2024
Corrie's Season 