Yesterday, I shared thirteen beautiful words that helped me make sense of the past few months. Today, for Five for Friday, I’m reflecting on five lessons my first year of teaching, and this season of life more broadly, has taught me.
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So here they are,
Five Lessons My First Year of Teaching Taught Me
1. I am more resilient than I give myself credit for.
A new career at this stage of life, a credential program, a first year in the classroom, and a packed schedule, plus planning two trips—none of it was easy. There were moments of uncertainty, self-doubt, and sheer exhaustion. But each step reminded me that I’m learning that I can do hard things, even when I don’t feel completely ready.
Resilience, I’ve learned, doesn’t need to be center stage or draw attention to itself. More often than not, it’s simply showing up, one day at a time.
2. Learning doesn’t stop with age.
One of the greatest gifts of this year has been discovering that I can still be a student.
It required humility: asking questions, being coached, being observed, accepting feedback, and letting go of the need to have everything figured out. One of the biggest lessons this year has been that growth doesn’t come from already knowing; it comes from staying curious enough to keep learning.
I hope I never stop being a student.
3. Listening is one of the most powerful ways to teach.
Students communicate in so many ways—not just through words: sometimes through silence, behavior, a smile, a drawing, or a simple gesture.
The same is true of parents, colleagues, friends, and family.
This year has reminded me that listening isn’t simply waiting for my turn to speak; it’s choosing to understand first. It’s also something I need to practice intentionally. When I truly listen, I build trust, learn more deeply, and often discover that people have been telling me what they need all along.
4. Patience and empathy belong at home, too.
Patience and empathy come naturally when I’m working with students.
The harder lesson has been remembering to extend that same grace to my family, and to myself.
Slowing down, softening my reactions, and offering myself the same kindness I so readily give others—those are lessons I’m still learning. Perhaps they always will be.
5. Everyone has a way to shine.
Every student taught me this in a different way.
Some shine quietly. Others brightly. Some need encouragement before they can see their own strengths. Some simply need someone to believe in them until they begin believing in themselves.
The same is true beyond the classroom.
Every person carries unique gifts, talents, and stories. Sometimes our greatest role isn’t to fix, direct, or change someone…but simply to notice and create the space where they can shine in their own way.
Reading Natsukashii?
📚 A Book That Found Me Again
The Mystery of the Burnt Cottage by Enid Blyton (Five Find Outers series – Book one)
As I mentioned in an earlier post, the Five Find-Outers has always been one of my favorite Enid Blyton mystery series
One of the unexpected joys of this India trip was rediscovering one of my many childhood treasures: The Mystery of the Burnt Cottage by Enid Blyton.
It’s my well-loved copy – a birthday gift from my brother. Well… technically, he was just past being a toddler at the time, so I’m fairly certain my dad deserved most of the credit for choosing the book while proudly writing my brother’s name on the first page. That was one of my dad’s traditions: recording the date and place where each book was bought, along with who it was for and who had given it.
Holding that old book again instantly transported me back to the girl who could disappear into a story for hours. The pages are a little worn now and could use some TLC—a project I hope to tackle soon—but the memories tucked between them remain wonderfully intact.
As I begin this new chapter as a teacher, it somehow feels fitting that one of the books accompanying me this week is one that first nurtured my love of reading all those years ago.
(1 & 2) Book Beginnings and First Line Friday
BOOK BEGINNINGS ON FRIDAY is hosted by Rose City Reader. What book are you happy about reading this week? Please share the opening sentence (or so) on BOOK BEGINNINGS ON FRIDAY! Add the link to your blog or social media post and visit other blogs to see what others are reading.
Happy Friday and welcome to the FIRST LINE FRIDAY, hosted by Reading is My Superpower! It’s time to grab the book nearest to you and leave a comment with the first line.
It was at half-past nine on a dark April night that all the excitement began.
3 Friday 56
THE FRIDAY 56 is hosted by by Anne at HeadFullofBooks. To play, open a book and turn to page 56 (or 56% on your e-reader). Find a sentence or two and post them, along with the book title and author. Then link up and visit others in the linky.
The children listened, and each of them thought the same thing.
4 Book Blogger Hop
The purpose of THE BOOK BLOGGER HOP is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, and befriend other bloggers. THE BOOK BLOGGER HOP is hosted by Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer.
Do you read one book at a time, or juggle a few at once?
My Answer: Usually, I’m reading at least three books at once. There have even been times when I’ve had a dozen books on the go!
5 Other Joyful Childhood Discoveries
Rediscovering childhood books has been one of the unexpected joys of this trip. Alongside The Mystery of the Burnt Cottage, I was delighted to find several other well-loved favorites waiting on my shelves in India. I couldn’t bring them home this time, but they’ll be waiting for me on my next visit.
A few that instantly brought back happy memories:
- Ukrainian Folktales by Irina Zheleznova
- More Amar Chitra Katha comics (there could never be enough!)
- A couple more Enid Blyton books
- One of Dad’s custom-bound collections of comics and storybooks, this one containing a treasured bound fairy-tale collection with Pinocchio, Snow White, Hansel and Gretel, and other classics
- Along with another volume of Richie Rich, Casper, and other Harvey Comics favorites
Just seeing these books again reminded me how much of my lifelong love of reading was shaped by the little library my parents built for us, one carefully chosen book—or lovingly bound collection—at a time.
Looking Back
When I first stepped into a classroom, I thought I would spend the year learning how to teach. And I did.
But somewhere along the way, I also learned a little more about people, life, and myself.
Perhaps that’s one of the unexpected gifts of teaching. Every lesson you prepare for someone else ends up teaching you something, too.
And Now, Over to You…
If you could choose one lesson life has been teaching you lately, what would it be? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments. Also, if you want to join along and share your reading journey through first lines and other answers, do hop over and check out those amazing blogs as well.
Happy Friday, and may you find something this weekend that reminds you how much there is still to learn, notice, and celebrate.
