When I was younger, I used to put myself down at every available opportunity. I did it in what I thought was witty and funny ways. I did it so much that it actually became a problem. I then found a girl that I really liked and a relationship developed. She wouldn’t let me put myself down anymore. I kept trying but she wouldn’t put up with it.
In teacher’s college, I was placed inside a great teacher’s classroom. He really challenged me to change as well. I first went into his classroom talking like I did in everyday life. He told me that as teachers we need to model good English and that it was important to do so. At the time, I thought he was just harping on me. He would actually count how many times I said, “gonna” in the course of a lesson instead of the proper “going to.” I tell you it was quite illuminating to see the ridiculous amount of tallies he showed me. I couldn’t believe it.
I tried to stop saying “gonna” in the classroom. I tried to stop putting myself down in other aspects of my life. Both my ex-girlfriend and my associate teacher helped me to do so. They wouldn’t put up with anything less. At the time, I absolutely hated it but now I can see that they did me a favour.
I don’t say “gonna” in the classroom anymore or “wanna” or “guys” or any other number of slang words and mispronunciations that many teachers seem to use. I want to thank my associate teacher for that. I don’t put myself down anymore either. I need to thank my ex-girlfriend for that.
Both of these people helped me better myself. I didn’t appreciate it at the time because it was hard. It was difficult for me to change. I didn’t want to change. But when I thought about it, it made so much sense. These things didn’t help me at all. They needed to go. And they did.
I couldn’t have done it by myself. I will forever be indebted to you both. I hope you know how much these two little things helped me. I want to thank anyone else who helped influence me in positive ways and to see a better side of myself. You might not know the good that you did for me. Those little things were not little at all. They were huge.
5 responses to “Improving Self Through Others”
Umm… I have a tedancy to put my self down. But with the people i hang out with now i don’t do that any more!! I am so tired we have another break in April we have off for a week and i can’t wait!! how often do you guys have off? I hate school very much right now i can’t stand it football season is in four months Iam a big New York Giants Fan Eli Manning #10 hes the quarterback for the team
Hi Lizzy Dizzy. Putting yourself down is a terrible thing to do. It shows a lack of confidence and if you say it often enough, people actually start to believe you. And then you believe it too. I’m glad you’ve stopped.
We just had March Break for a week and then we had the Easter long weekend. It was a long enough break for me. We just finished the second term and the report cards are all done. I know that the rest of the year will fly by. It will be summer before I know it.
If we are lucky in life, we have friends who will give us advice.
If we would be wise, we must learn what is good advice and what is bad advice.
Hey, how are you doing? I hope that you are true summer is around the corner I just wish it was here and I wish I was out of school I hate it a TON!!! I hate when people say things about Mexicans they don’t even check to see if there is any one in the room who is Mexican because everthing they say is offensive to ones that are Mexican even of they don’t say anything. Well, Duh i am mexican my dad is from Mexico and my mom is from Niagara Falls. People think that mexs come to the USA to steal jobs but they are here to do the jobs that americans don’t want to do like working in the field, they don’t get paid that much money and they are here to save money for their families and do field work, then later if they work hard they get enough money and they may evenually live here get green cards and start a life of their own. Most do NO harm to people they are just here to make thier lives better off for them and their families. Well, i got to go see ya later.
Sorry to here that you are faced with racist comments. People often don’t think before they talk.
March 21 was the National Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. I forgot to blog about that this year. I meant to. Racism needs to stop.