Why Teach?

A student recently asked me, “Mrs. Danahy, why do you teach?”  In an honest response, I was startled by the question!  As I finish my 18th year in education, it’s been quite some time that someone asked me why I teach.  Truthfully, when I started my career at 23, I could not have imagined in my wildest dreams that I would remain in the classroom to become one of the seasoned, veteran teachers.    But, here I am still teaching and I am happy to report that I feel just as passionate about education as I did on that first day!  At the secondary level, I have long since discovered that adolescents by nature are very much focused on the moment; that what is happening at that very second is important.   And, how refreshing it is for me to live in the moment during my classes!   When my students are in my room, sharing the moment with me; each moment becomes a small visual celebration of imagination, of accomplishing the seemingly impossible, and of pure, creative inspiration.   My teaching focus is always on student learning, growth, and discovery and I’m never disappointed because the students never let me down.  No matter how seemingly insignificant, the best part about being the art teacher is that I can find something to celebrate with each student!  How joyous it is to spend my time with students sharing in these moments!  

I have often said that I have the best job in the world because A) I get to do art all day, B) I get to talk about art all day, and C) I laugh much and often!   The process of teaching and learning is a journey that I am so fortunate to share with my students.  Working with students on a day-to-day basis inspires me to be a better artist and educator and my students teach me much more than I could ever offer to them.  

So, to answer the question, “Why do I teach?”  I can say that I teach because I am fortunate enough to share joyous, celebratory moments of learning with my students each day.   

Why do you teach?

-Rebecca Stone-Danahy