As I write this, I’m sitting here wrapping up day four of a four-day exam prep workshop that I regularly teach. Today my students are taking their four-hour mock exam, which gives me some time to catch up on a few things. One thing that always occurs to me on this fourth day is how much I enjoy teaching and the rewards it brings. Having some time at the moment I’ve decided to share some of these thoughts.

One of the great benefits of teaching others is how much one tends to learn about the subject they are teaching. I’ve been teaching this particular workshop going on four years and I still learn something in every class. The something may be a specific fact of which I was unaware, or a better way to explain a concept to a student or something else. The point is I’m always learning when I teach.

I’ve had this experience in other non-professional areas as well. In my twelve seasons as a ski patroller I spent several seasons running the patrol’s training program. Helping to teach the patrol candidates the various skills they needed to become patrollers helped me improve my own skills.

During my time in search and rescue, I eventually got to the point where I was teaching specific subjects in many of the trainings we held. Again I saw my skills increase as I became more involved in teaching various skills to others.

I strongly urge you to explore teaching, either professionally or as a volunteer, to reap the many benefits teaching has to offer. You won’t be sorry.

Take a moment and consider the following:

  • Teachers Impact Lives – I can recall a teacher I had as an adult who had a huge impact on my life. That teacher is largely responsible for my choosing the career path that I am on today. I know that I have a similar impact on one or two students in each of my classes. I find this belief very satisfying and rewarding.
  • Helping People Learn is Satisfying– As someone that teaches adults, its extremely satisfying to see “the light go on” in the moment when a student understands a concept and realizes it’s a solution to a problem they’re currently experiencing at work. I also enjoy receiving emails and YELPs from students expressing gratitude for my helping them learn something they’ve found to be useful in their lives.
  • Consider Giving Back to the Community – Those of us who are more “senior” or experienced have an obligation to give back to the community that helped us get to where we are. Teaching and volunteering is a great way to accomplish this and can be done as part of our professional or our personal life.

Please take some time to consider and share your thoughts on the following:

  • What teaching opportunities exist in your current environment?
  • Can you name a teacher you’ve had who made a significant difference in your life?
  • What personal experiences have you had in teaching others?

©2017 Joseph T Drammissi