Walking in Your Truth: An Educator’s Journey to Authenticity
One of the greatest triumphs or wins that anyone can make in their life is learning to walk in their authenticity. Whether we believe it or not, countless people throughout the world are simply striving to be acknowledged by others. However, they are not able to fully embrace who they are as individuals.
This is one of the reasons they are forever checking to see if their posts were liked on Facebook or their pictures on Instagram were liked because they are seeking validation from others, to affirm that they are great. However, they do not realize that even if they get no likes other than the like from themselves, that their words are powerful - even if those words to their minds only change them. Nevertheless, when those words that they have learned to embrace or allow those inspirational words in the post to change them, they are able to help influence and change others because they are able now to embrace who they are in completeness.
How do you know?
I overstand, understand, and innerstand, the challenges of truly walking in authenticity. One of the greatest ways for me to have overcome my inability to embrace all that makes up who I am occurred simultaneously while I was afforded the opportunity to work at a high school as a paraprofessional. You may be wondering, What does working as a paraprofessional at a high school have to do with walking in authenticity? While I was working at this particular High School in this specific position as a paraprofessional, known to some as a teacher's assistant, I was also married with four children, and going to school to acquire my teaching certification. This meant that while the teacher was giving instructions, I was able to assist students with special needs, but in the process students that did not need academic support needed emotional support and would engage in various conversations and conversations with me that they were not doing with the “teacher.” Also, it was during this time that I was in class at our local University with students that were much younger than me. It was extremely humbling, but I am forever grateful for the lessons that I learned during this time in my life.
Back to the story….
However, while working at the high school as a paraprofessional, I was able to have conversations and discussions with students of all types. It was as if I was able to infiltrate through the hierarchy and have conversations and discussions with people that were extremely popular as well as some of the students that were not as popular and were involved in activities similar to mine when I was in high school, band and choir. However, it was the conversations with those that were more popular that I came to realize that everyone has the same struggle, learning to embrace who they truly are. It was from one of the young ladies at the school that she told me that being popular required her to be “on” all the time. In other words, she had to perform and become who was acceptable to retain her position and social status.
It truly was invaluable to have acquired such knowledge. It was from that experience that I learned even more the power of learning to embrace who you are. As a paraprofessional at that particular high school, in spite of how others dressed, I wore a shirt and tie undressed extremely professionally daily. I learned not to minimize my position as a paraprofessional, but instead I embraced it in totality - I would be engaged in the lessons that the teacher would teach and contribute when I was able to add to the classroom discussions. my contributions to the discussions in class and my discussions that I had with students privately to redirect them and for them to see their potential were not unfruitful. A few years ago while I was walking in Walmart, one of the students that I had taken to the hallway several times to redirect him to tell him that he should go to class. I would also tell him frequently life lessons that I had learned over the years, in the hope that he would hear them and apply them.
He stopped me with excitement as I was about to walk down the aisle and he told me “Mr Greer I know that you don't think that I listen to you every time you took me in the hallway to correct me, but Mr. Greer I am doing better. I'm married with children, I have my own vehicle, and I now am a homeowner. Thank you.”
Had I not learned to embrace all the makes up who I am, I would have minimized my position as a very professional and not contributed to his life. If I'd not learned in that moment while being a professional to walk in what makes me me, and dress in a manner that is seen as professional, I would not have remained in his mind. What I learned more and more even as an educator today is that people will forever remember how you made them feel more than what you said as the teacher or more than any lesson you taught.
In my classroom we have several mantras we repeat frequently, and my intent is to empower my students with these words.
One of the sayings that my students respond to is when I say:
“Everyone's different and that's…"
and their response is:
"Okay!”
Five words to empower every one that hears them in their times of self-doubt, low self-esteem, and adolescent mindsets. Anytime there are disagreements between students, mocking or things that would otherwise be detrimental, we use this call and response. When I share with my students my challenges and triumphs I insert this call and response. Me learning to walk in my authenticity has made a student I had three years ago see and without hesitation embrace me with a hug.
Another student told me that I had several years ago as well, who is now a junior, “Mr. Greer, nobody greets me like you did!”
My response, “You only get one Mr. Greer…”
I am grateful for this journey to embrace who I am. In walking in more and more authenticity, I see my value and I see a greater purpose for my life.
Jonathan Greer is a teacher, a podcaster, and a leader in his community. His podcast Striving WITH ADHD speaks to his journey with ADHD and using his faith, therapy, and medication to manage it. He is also a moderator for our Men’s ADHD Support Group on Facebook, where he shares his amazing wisdom, his journey to manage his ADHD, as well as living and thriving in his faith. Please join us and find your way into a community of men who are all on this same journey in finding ourselves and living our authenticity.
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