“Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars”. -Norman Vincent Peale
Though transitioning to a new environment comes with many benefits, leaving a place can be a difficult task. As I find myself in that position now, I reflect on my time working at Linnies, and the memories made.
I began working here at the start of 2019. Though I was already an experienced teacher, there was a lot that I didn’t know (and things that I am still learning today). My job is to teach others, but I realize that I have been receiving lessons from the people around me for the past three years.
From my co-workers, I have learned the importance of efficient communication. When working with a team, communication is the most important thing. If communication is poor, mistakes that could have been avoided become an unnecessary problem. When communication is good, work can flow smoothly and things can be completed efficiently. I have been fortunate enough to have worked with wonderful people every day. Even though it is work and it gets a bit crazy sometimes, being surrounded by the right people who know how to work together makes it seem less like a job and more like spending time with friends.
From my adult students, I have learned to always do my best. I have had students come to lessons every week eager to learn, wanting to improve their English. Even if they cannot speak a lot yet, they come to class and try to speak as much as they can. They show that they’re not afraid to try new things. I have also seen students with a higher level of English come to continue improving their language skills. They’re not content with simply “getting by” or saying, “my English is good enough”. They want to better themselves and be the best that they can be. Sometimes it’s not even for work or travel, they simply want to do it for themselves.
From my young students, I have learned that sometimes you have to not worry and just laugh. With adults, I have come to know what to expect in terms of conducting a lesson. With children, every class is a new surprise. Teaching to children requires a certain ‘light-heartedness’. If I am very serious, the class will not be effective. The best classes with my students have been the ones where we work together to create the lesson. I get it started, but the students come in with their own ideas, and the results are often hilarious. I believe this positive experience extends to experiencing language learning as well, so it all plays an important role. These classes have really become a collaborative effort between me and my students. We play together, we laugh together, we learn together.
To my coworkers, to my students. Leaving you is not easy for me, and I hope you understand that this decision was not easy for me to make. However, I hope that you understand that I am leaving to pursue opportunities to become the best I can be. I hope that you too, always try to be the best version of yourself. Don’t settle for ‘just okay’. Don’t be afraid to try new things. There’s nothing wrong with making a mistake. If you never try, you may learn to regret it. Just laugh it off and try again. Leaving is hard, but I know I’m making the best decision for myself. To all of you, thank you for allowing me to be your coworker, your teacher, and your friend. I hope to see you all again one day. Until then, always strive to be better, and don’t forget to smile.
-Josh Wojcik
