We had our yearly fudge making party tonight, and it had me thinking how much making fudge is like teaching. You might be thinking I’m crazy, but hear me out. In order to make fudge, it starts with constant stirring on the stove of the sugar mixture. You have to have it on just the right amount of heat for an exact amount of time. Then, you transfer the sugar mixture into the chocolate morsels and butter, and stir like crazy until you end up with a smooth mixture of what will end up being fudge! It is a lot of work for 10-15 minutes, but the end result is two trays of fudge that last forever!
This had me thinking about how teaching is very similar. There is a LOT of hard work that goes into it, and there is a science to making it successful. However, the end is completely worth the hard work. Even when you are feeling tired and don’t think you can see it through, hold on for just a little bit longer so you can reach that final result!
Unlike fudge though, our end result has impacts that last for lifetimes. I still remember all of my teachers, and it is what drives me to be a positive memory in my students’ lives. Even on the toughest days with my toughest students, I know that if I continue to show up for that student, it will have an impact. We might not get to see the final product, but if we just keep stirring like crazy, eventually that student will end up as smooth and perfect fudge.
We might not get to see the final product, but if we just keep stirring like crazy, eventually that student will end up as smooth and perfect fudge.
The Blissful Teacher 