First, I tell them I did everything backwards. They relate to this scenario because most kids have an adult telling them they are doing things wrong and in the wrong order. Well, I was that kid, too. I was in high school for the social aspect and cared nothing about my classes. I made decent grades, but I never tried. They are shocked because they think all teachers were always “nerds.”

I go on to tell them that the first thing I did after high school was get married at the age of 18. I was raised to believe girls became wives and mothers. My mother was 44 years older than me and old fashion. She got married at 15 – not with her parents’ approval. I thought that was what I should do, too. My aunts and uncles were completely against it and felt I should go to college. I was not ready for college. I was too immature and stupid for getting married, but no one could tell me that.

I was completely against college. No aspirations at all in that direction. My students are completely taken aback to this information because I am always pushing them to discipline themselves in order to survive in college and the workplace. I tell them that I was one of those kids who would have really screwed up a college career by partying and skipping class. “You have got to be kidding!” is their response. In their minds, teachers don’t and never were supposed to have a life. It is so funny. I go on to tell them I am glad I got married though I do not recommend it at that young age because it is hard. You have to grow up fast when you live with another person who does not do the same things in the same way your family does. At that age, many of us think everyone thinks the same way we do. There were many fights and many walk outs those first few years. It was hard, hard, hard.



