Educators understand the history of U.S. schooling and the ways in which it has been used historically, and in present times, to maintain an unequal social order. Educators consistently work to improve the education system for historically underserved students, families, and communities.

Student teaching has been one of the most rewarding opportunities I have ever been a part of. Learning from and alongside my mentor and the first-grade students is truly an opportunity like no other. Not only has this solidified my choice to become an educator, but it has also taught me very valuable lessons.

One lesson in particular is the notion that mistakes are both natural and necessary. I have always viewed mistakes as learning opportunities; however, student teaching has helped me further develop this mindset with intentionality. I can perceive how learning from my mistakes builds a stronger foundation for my next attempt and how it provides a chance to find new ways to approach the situation or problem. I am now less afraid to make mistakes.

I have also grown my confidence to be transparent about these mistakes, showing the students that even teachers stumble sometimes. I vividly remember the time I was conducting the phonics lesson one morning. We were going over words that end with “ed” and I was struggling with the phoneme segmentation. After a while, I stopped the class and said, “Friends, let’s pause. I am getting tricked.” I looked towards my mentor teacher and asked for help. I was embarrassed at first, but I quickly realized that my willingness to be vulnerable in front of the students would help to show them that we are all humans– and humans make mistakes.

Student teaching is helping me to show myself the same grace I show the students because I am, and always will be, learning. Each day is a new opportunity if you allow it to be. And if allowed, the growth that can be achieved in this is immense and indescribable. If I had to sum up my biggest takeaway from this experience it would be this: Mistakes are inevitable. They are a part of life. If life is what we make it, and if we want our lives to be vivid and authentic, then we must accept the fact that we will mess up now and then along the way. Admit when errors happen, forgive ourselves for making them, and most of all, learn from them. It is scary, but it is also exciting at the same time. What I am still pondering is how to help students understand that not all mistakes are acceptable, such as deliberately hurting someone, while still upholding the notion that mistakes are ‘a good thing’.