They say it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert. That means, if you worked roughly 40 hours a week for 50 weeks out of the year for 5 years, you could become an expert in something. 5 years. That’s how long it takes to be an expert in your career, a sport, a hobby, cooking, anything.

When I left college, I thought that I was going to become an expert in my field—teaching—immediately. It seems idiotic to admit to that now, but I had good reason to believe I might. School always came easily to me; all I had to do was to work hard enough, and I would be successful. I thought the same thing would happen when I got a job. I performed well in previous jobs; why would this one be any different?

This is what teaching is like on your first day as a full-time certified teacher: You’ve been planning for months. You picked out the perfect outfit to wear about 2 weeks ago. You made your lunch the night before. You woke up super early. You walk to your classroom, unsure what to expect. You walk to the front of a room full of 36 students you’ve never met before who are sizing you up and trying to determine how easily they can push you around. The rest of that year, they will test you. How far can I push her? What’s the best way to text without her seeing me? How long can I sleep before she wakes me up? If I don’t do my homework, will she give me an opportunity to pass at the end of the semester? You don’t know all of this yet, but your body seems to know it as you are unsure what to say to begin class. How did I become this old? Am I really the adult in the room? Shouldn’t we have some supervision? Why did I select this as my job?

I’m sure not everyone has that exact experience, but that’s how I felt, like a fish out of water. Floundering. Looking for a safe place away from the sharks. Trying to get back to an ocean of security. The entire school year, I felt like I was just barely holding it together.

This is what teaching is like on the first day of your second year: You wake up at a reasonable time. You picked your outfit out 3 days before, and your lunch was made the night before. You take your time getting ready since you prepared the room and made all necessary copies the day before. You walk into your classroom to 36 students who you’ve never met before who are sizing you up and trying to determine how easily they can push you around. You stare right back, knowing to establish your presence in the room. The bell rings and you welcome students and introduce yourself in a loud, confident voice. You make your expectations clear. You don’t act scared or nervous because, even if you had some anticipation beforehand, you know that you must be–and are–the master of your classroom.

Experience is everything. One year has made me a complete different teacher. Yeah, I still make mistakes (I’m human.), and I am nowhere near being an expert teacher. Yet, I am such a better teacher than I was last year. I have been overwhelmed about twice this semester whereas, last year, it was basically every day. My hours of experience have allowed me to enjoy the job waaaayyyy more than I did last year.

Speaking of enjoying the job, I have recently heard some teaching horror stories. I know some people—friends and friends of friends—who are leaving the teaching profession. I don’t blame them, and I am not judging them in any way. Teaching is extremely difficult and time consuming and pays very little. However, in listening to their stories, a lot of their issues don’t have to do with the government or the pay or the students. Their issues have to do with the people with whom they work. They tell me stories of gossiping co-workers, unsupportive department chairs, and administrators who take the parents’ and students’ side over the teacher’s.

Experience is everything. Your experience at a school might determine how you feel about the profession forever. It makes a world of difference to have a bad day and have co-workers who will listen to you, sympathize with you, give you advice, send you notes of encouragement, leave chocolate in your mailbox, etc. It makes a world of difference to have an administrator sit-in on a parent-teacher conference and back you up. It makes a world of difference when your department heads don’t make you do something they wouldn’t first do themselves. (Of course, we sometimes all have to do things we don’t like, but that’s life.)

My experience at Sanderson High School is a positive one. I absolutely love the people I work with, feel supported by my co-workers and administration, and know I can admit to my mistakes and ask for advice without judgement. As cheesy as this sounds, being on Sanderson staff is really like being part of a family. If you’re at a school with a negative atmosphere, the hard parts of your job become even harder. Experience is everything.

To conclude, I want you to remember one thing: If your experience isn’t living up to your expectations, you can always change it. You can work more, go to professional development, start encouraging your co-workers by modeling positive behavior, or join the School Improvement Team. You could leave the job certainly, or you could even leave that school; however, remember that experience is everything. It takes 30 days to establish a habit, such as encouraging co-workers instead of giving into negativity. And, it takes 10,000 hours to become and expert so don’t expect immediate results no matter what your chosen profession is.

–Mads