Inspiring Teens

I have been teaching for 17 years. What?! Really? It doesn't seem like it has been that long but I guess it has been almost twenty years of trying to inspire teenagers. I love teaching high school. Some may say that I am a little crazy, but really there have been some incredible students and friends that I have made over my career. It still amazes me that I have such amazing friendships from my first year of teaching, it just means so much to me to know that I have inspired students over the years. I taught my first four years in Wabasca, Alberta. Although some people have told me it was a mistake to spend four years up there, I think it was an incredible experience. I have friends on Facebook that I taught and coached back then and it was just a couple of weeks ago that some of the girls got together. They were discussing the happy memories of cheering together and one of the girls sent me a message saying how much they all appreciated me and those years that I coached them. I felt overwhelmed. And, that is not all of the stories I have from students and friends. So many to talk about that I just feel so incredibly blessed to have the career I have today. I started writing a book about my career and mentioned it to the student who inspired me to write when he so politely told me...
" Why, would you write a book? No One would read it!"
My reply "Why?"
"Becasue Mrs. Carriere, you over think EVERYTHING!"
"Oh."
So many great students, so many great years and I love all of the friends I have today that have been students of mine. I can not tell you all how you have inspired me and made me the person I am today and the teacher I am today. Not to mention the coach I will be again. After taking a few years off I am going back to coaching cheerleading again and so thankful to all of my alumni that will help me. Mark you have been invaluable to me in bringing me back into the coaching world. Your knowledge and skill level are incredible. All I can say is that you must have had an amazing teacher and coach in high school.

"Why do you build me up, (build me up) Buttercup, baby?"