I Teach
I Teach
Written in 2008 and included in the PhilWP Invitational Summer Institute I archives
by Michael Amodei
Some people work nine to five
Never talk to anybody
Leave work at work
Never try anything new
Have to make and fetch coffee
I teach
Some people hate their jobs
Get new ones
Every other year
Never get any new challenges
Can’t wait until the weekend
Sort and deliver mail
I teach
Some people are able to stay up past 9:30 on Friday night
Party all weekend
Hate Mondays
Never bring work home
Get called into the office on Saturday
I teach
Some people are jealous of summers off
Can go on vacations any time of the year
Have to work some holidays
Have to work overtime
Spend their days staring at a computer and answering emails
I teach
Some people never make a difference
Don’t have to worry about whether anyone listens to them
Don’t have to engage everyone
Don’t have to mark papers
Don’t have to make people do things that they don’t enjoy
I teach
I get to see the satisfaction when they get it
I get to form relationships you wouldn’t trade for anything
I get to work as a team
I get to show children that they really can
I get to start over every September
I teach
Michael Amodei joined the Philadelphia Writing Project in 2008 as a teacher consultant. Michael’s piece was originally written in 2008 and was included in PhilWP Summer Institute I archives.