Yes, I think I can now consider myself a teacher. I have been teaching for almost two years now, whether it was teaching private English lessons in Brazil after school, my first job last year as a teacher, or now teaching at the school in Ecuador. I believe I can say that it is something that I am good at, and something that lots of times brings me JOY. I do miss LEARNING, and will be ready for college in August, but I will miss being a teacher. I will miss getting excited with my students when they learn something new, laughing with them when they say something silly, receiving lots of sweet cards and big hugs, and just showing them that I, as their teacher, support them and will always be willing to help. I will miss the big smiles and funny moments and sweet hearts. I will miss the big kids, who are always ready to laugh with me, and surprise me with little moments of shy-sweetness (does that make sense?). I will miss the little kids, who are not afraid to say "I love you, Miss Ansley!", and who try their best every single day to learn and please me.
My Granna wrote me a letter that says:
"Dear Ansley,
I would like to think I passed my love of teaching to you. I have always felt teachers were born not made. You really have a gift for teaching. The way you relate to children , the way you take them into their imagination for adventure is wonderful. These children will never forget you. You will be their 'Angel Ansley'. "
Granna, I hope you are right. I will miss these kids, my little angels. I will miss working here. I will miss teaching and the joy that it brings. I am going to make the best of the three months I have left, and pray that, by the end of my time here, I will have made a difference in their lives. I am blessed.
