Substitute Teacher Experience
Back in my sophomore year, I had a substitute teacher who was in his 30s or 40s, and he was genuinely one of the best subs we ever had because he was so approachable. One day, I approached him with what I thought was a silly question. Before I even finished asking, he just replied, “No.” I tried again, only to hear “no” once more. I could tell something was off, so I just chuckled and walked away.
But then he erupted in frustration, venting about how he felt like a failure and how us sophomores wouldn’t be able to handle the real world. I had heard this kind of talk before—growing up in a less fortunate environment, it didn’t really faze me. However, I noticed a lot of my classmates were visibly upset by his words. It made me reflect on how entitled some high schoolers can be; they seem to get emotional too easily, especially those who come from wealth. It’s as if they haven’t faced any real challenges or discipline in life! I’m thankful for my background because it’s helped me grow and prepare for the realities of the world. Meanwhile, many kids in my class seem unwilling to step outside their comfort zones and take risks.
It sounds like that experience really struck a chord with you. It’s interesting how different backgrounds can lead to such varying perspectives on challenges and how we handle tough situations. It’s true that some students might struggle with criticism, especially if they haven’t faced many hardships. That substitute’s outburst might have been his own frustration coming out, and it’s a shame it affected the students negatively.
While it’s important to acknowledge that everyone’s experiences shape who they are, it’s also crucial to foster resilience and empathy in high school. Maybe instead of focusing on how “spoiled” others seem, we can encourage open conversations about the different life lessons we all carry. After all, learning from each other’s experiences could bridge that gap and help everyone grow! What do you think could help create a more understanding environment among your classmates?