Day 9 of our Reflective Teacher Blog Challenge! I've been inspired and challenged by all the blog posts I've read to date - that's just what Beth and I wanted out of this challenge. Creating a vibrant online community for +TeachThought is also my goal and role. It feels like we're finally getting there!
I thought a very long time about this post. There have been many things I've achieved in teaching that no one really knows about. I could write about those or I could write about something that is happening at the moment and is probably my biggest challenge - and battle - to date. It's also very personal and I've kept much of it to myself. If I can achieve this then it could well be my biggest accomplishment yet.
Teaching and learning mean everything to me. I hope that if I'm known or recognised for anything at all then it is for the way I've given everything I can for my students so that they can find their way, their passions and follow their dreams. I hope that my passion for what I do is clear and evident in everything I do and say.
That's why the current challenge is so hard.
Last year I was diagnosed with a major brain tumour and the expected outcome following surgery was not altogether positive. One day I was in the classroom - August 14 to be precise - and the next day I was in the Neuro ward at Auckland Hospital being told that I hadn't imagined the weird symptoms I'd experienced for 10 years, that I had a Vestibular Schwannoma - cool name aye. It was a benign tumour but was starting to press on the brain stem and had made me almost completely deaf. To add insult to injury, it was evident on a scan from 2011 but had been 'missed'. To cut a long story short "Arthur" needed to come out but there was quite a large risk in the 8 hours of surgery and I would also be completely deaf, may have severe balance issues and one side of my face could most likely be paralysed. Oh great - that's all??!!
Surgery was on September 20, 2013. While I was now completely deaf, I stunned them all and had absolutely no other side effects apart from some balance issues and went home after only 3 days - instead of the expected 7. I'm stubborn and determined. From here the battle began.
I thought I could return to school within a few weeks but was very knocked about by the surgery and really struggled to adjust to being deaf in one ear - you'd think it would be simple. Not quite like that I found. I couldn't give my school a definite return date so I did the right thing and resigned. I was so angry and frustrated that I couldn't just return. This is a very hard thing to explain to people. They really don't understand and I can fully understand why. My brain is absolutely fine - in fact my almost photographic memory has returned, (very helpful!!). I look and sound fine but...
It's now a year down the track. I am fighting to return to what I am so passionate about and looking for a suitable position either in leadership or consultancy and I know I will get there. In the meantime I have the TeachThought online community to develop and I continue to meet some fantastic people online and in person.
When I do, it will be my biggest accomplishment in teaching. Just to return to what I love.
#reflectiveteacher
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