I taught 5th grade. I love 5th graders. I think there is something about that honest awkwardness that just warms my heart; or possibly, I relate so much to 5th graders because I am somewhere inside, still an awkward 5th grader. The reason is probably the latter. Many people disdain 5th graders, perhaps they don't enjoy looking at themselves in the mirror.
I have further evidence to suggest that we are all still in the 5th grade. My husband works as a manager at a call center. He will come home and tell me stories about associates and other managers and time and time again I say, "Oh my goodness that was.....they were just like that! Here is how I connected with that student." It has been very fun working with my husband in that capacity.
The only scary thing, is that we never change. Who we are at 5th grade is often who we will be at 28. We have certain habits and tendencies that weave through the fabric of who we are. We have a default mode. The default is 5th grade. You are angry at a co-worker, you snidely stop talking to them. You avoid and evade. Oh, Bobby stole your favorite pencil? You aren't talking to him, what a surprise.
The only way to move beyond the 5th grade is to realize #1. You are still in the 5th grade and #2. Make radical life changes to move beyond the 5th grade. I don't want to stay my humble 5th grade self. Although, she was cute, endearing, and totally a teacher's pet. She was also terrified of the world. Terrified of death, and terrified of being alone. This blog is all about moving on. How I am going from scared 5th grader to empowered adult. I would use the hashtag adulting, but as a hopeful adult I loath the cliche.
I have further evidence to suggest that we are all still in the 5th grade. My husband works as a manager at a call center. He will come home and tell me stories about associates and other managers and time and time again I say, "Oh my goodness that was.....they were just like that! Here is how I connected with that student." It has been very fun working with my husband in that capacity.
The only scary thing, is that we never change. Who we are at 5th grade is often who we will be at 28. We have certain habits and tendencies that weave through the fabric of who we are. We have a default mode. The default is 5th grade. You are angry at a co-worker, you snidely stop talking to them. You avoid and evade. Oh, Bobby stole your favorite pencil? You aren't talking to him, what a surprise.
The only way to move beyond the 5th grade is to realize #1. You are still in the 5th grade and #2. Make radical life changes to move beyond the 5th grade. I don't want to stay my humble 5th grade self. Although, she was cute, endearing, and totally a teacher's pet. She was also terrified of the world. Terrified of death, and terrified of being alone. This blog is all about moving on. How I am going from scared 5th grader to empowered adult. I would use the hashtag adulting, but as a hopeful adult I loath the cliche.
The year is 2020, and not all of my posts shall be profound. But I hope that some can relate, some can try to understand, and hopefully, maybe someone will be inspired to try to walk through the door and move beyond the fifth grade.
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