So...I'm a Teacher Now Pt. V

Parts I - IV here

Submission- something I didn’t really think I had a problem with, until now.

I’M NOT IN CHARGE

I recently started a new position at a new school. This position is an assistant; so I have a very minimal and conspicuous role in the classroom. I don’t teach, don’t talk most of the time, I’m just sort of a wallflower that sometimes waves my arms around or tells students how to play certain notes on their instruments. When coming into this job, I didn’t think I’d have a problem with that. To be honest, I didn’t really think much about it. I focused more on being in some place different, getting more money, and doing less nonsensical responsibilities. But one thing I quickly started to notice as I began was that I’m not in charge. This became a problem when I started internally questioning my boss about certain things he’d do or say, or doubting his plans and procedures. Sometimes I would suggest what I thought were better solutions or I would try and step up a bit more or even attempt to help, but it seemed like those notions would get dismissed or maybe there was no need for it. So I became quite complacent and just watched as I agonised inside of what I would do differently. I quickly became frustrated, bored and apathetic to his lessons, and it’s only now that I’m realising how much my attitude has had to do with that. Because I didn’t really see him as my superior, initially, it became tricky to “respect” him. Like I kept thinking we were collaborators, but really, he’s in charge.

BE HUMBLE, SIT DOWN!!!

As I was reading my devotion, the topic was on submission. And it was talking about how God commands us to obey those humans he’s put in authority over us. Check out 1 Peter 2:13-25. That whole section talks of what it means to be a follower of Christ and the bullcrap you’ll have to endure regardless! But it’s for good!

“Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.”

— 1 PETER 2:13-15

Whether it be your boss, spouse, elder, pastor, teacher, whatever, respect them. Like, you don’t have to like what they do or say, but you should respect them and accept their authority, really. (Not the same thing as being their slave or following them blindly into really really evil and wrong things!) And it’s a choice to make in how you respond to them, how you talk about them behind their back, how you support them. And it doesn’t matter if you’re a Christian or not. 1 Peter 2:17 goes on to say, “SHOW PROPER RESPECT TO EVERYONE.” This is SUPER tough! Especially because cases vary from person to person, and there are seriously some difficult people who God sometimes places in our authority. In fact, I think it’s those tough ones we should try and persevere more, and work on ourselves rather than focus on the shortcomings of others.

For me, I struggle on collaborating with many personality traits that dominate. I don’t talk back or anything, but I definitely have a negative mentality towards working with him, and that’s what’s wrong. I think this is part of why I’m feeling unfulfilled at work. I mean, part of it definitely is the job itself, but also part of it is me, because I can for sure work on my attitude, and I don’t want that to become a problem. I need to humble myself in this position that I’m in, even if I think I’m qualified for more, or under-utilised, or whatever it may be. Because fact is, I’m not in charge! And that’s what I need to be okay with and behave like I’m okay with it - instead of letting pride trick me into believing otherwise.