A High School Teacher's Perspective on Being Present and Engaged
Being Present and Engaged
By Sara Bohrer
As I reflect on the first ten days back teaching high school, my heart and mind relive so many emotions. I have sat with students in my classroom crying because they are feeling depressed, bullied, not included, etc. because of something someone (typically someone who they considered a friend) has said on Snapchat, Instagram, or Twitter about them or someone they are close to.
Often, it is not just one occurrence, but is is happening over and over again, and others are “liking” it and/or commenting on it fueling this negative fire. They are choosing to engage in this negative behavior instead of choosing to engage in positive behavior.
In the same instance, I get to see students get to know others who they have never met before throughout my Peer to Peer Leadership class, and in just ten days they have become friends and are laughing, hanging out in the hallways, and going to things outside of school. The mentors and mentees come back the next day smiling ear to ear and talking all about how much fun they have had and that they feel like they have a new friend. EMOTIONS!
With all this happening I think to myself, I get to teach the future leaders of this world and see so much hope, grace, positivity, and leadership that they have. However, I also see so much pain, hurt, and negativity that our world has created for them to have to battle through as they navigate a world where the culture has taught them the following:
- You need this many friends on Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, etc. to feel liked and welcomed by your peers—yet so many kids are in my classroom each day talking about how they are feeling isolated, unwelcome, sad, etc.
Post pictures with only filters so that you look “perfect” in beauty and life—yet God created you to be who He wants you to be not who others tell you to be or what any filter can make you to be.
Snapchat streaks are a contest, making sure you are constantly connected with everyone—yet have you really had a conversation with anyone today?
They are being told they need to have this many likes on a post, it needs to be retweeted this many times, etc. or I should take it down because it’s not good enough.
Asking questions like "Why am I not in this group chat that everyone has going? Did I do something wrong? Am I not good enough? Why hasn’t anyone liked my picture I posted just five minutes ago? Should I take it down? Where do I belong in this school? Even those who seem to have all the friends and be involved they are still feeling alone.
Why are we allowing society to take away two of the most important things that God has created us to be?
God created us in His image and who He wants us to be. Genesis 1:27
Love one another as He loved us. John 15:12
When I think of the students that I get to encounter each day in the halls of the high school I see so many AWESOME and amazing qualities that God created them to be in His image, yet they do not see that due to the negativity directed at them from those around them.
I also see some of them step up into AMAZING leadership roles of loving one another in ways they never thought possible. Once they are given the opportunity to love one another and be who God created them to be in His image, they become contagious to others. Yet for some reason there is still that awkward stare or comment made from someone instead of that smile, high five, or how are you.
I am by no means a perfect mother or teacher and have growing of my own to do. However, I do know that I want my daughters to grow up in a society where we can embrace who God created us to be and love one another.
I hope that I am able to teach my daughters and my students that we can stop engaging in negative social media (Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, group chats etc.) and be YOU! Be who God created you to be.
As adults I think we sometimes do not know what to say to the youth today because we did not grow up with the social media being thrown in our faces everyday, but we as teachers, coaches, parents, etc. can hopefully help make a shift in the culture today and set examples to the young people today by instilling character in them by the choices we are making with social media and the amount we are on our phones. Choosing to be ENGAGED in face to face positive relationships as adults can be examples for those we teach, coach, minister to, and care for.
Let’s choose NOT to ENGAGE in negative group chats, posts, etc.
I truly believe that if we can set examples of building others up, including others, showing others grace and forgiveness, we can lead a generation where depression and anxiety are becoming epidemics into a world of beauty and grace.
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Sara is a wife to her wonderful husband, mom to her beautiful kids, high school teacher and coach, and Young Life leader. She is encouraged by her family and the students that she gets to teach, interact, and minister to on a daily basis.