Educators act ethically and maintain the integrity, credibility and reputation of the profession.
Role model, that is what this professional standard means to me. Role model is an idea that I have prided myself on for at least the last 10 years of my life and if I am being honestly likely the number is higher then that. Being a high level athlete a primary message that is shared consistently at the beginning of the year on the teams I was on was that of acting and carrying yourself responsibly. At the time I found it harder to truly believe that at 15 I could be a role model to others. At now 24 I can look back and admit that I was. I have a little full circle moment story that displays this realization quite well…
When I was in high school I played hockey for the U18 Female Elite Northern Capitals team in Prince George. This was the highest level of female hockey to play for my age at the time, the team when I played on it was very successful, and we frequently would have younger girls who played hockey come watch us, or we would go out and skate with them at their practices. My coaches always told us when we interact with these younger players “these girls look up to you, they aspire to be you one day, so be a role model and set a good example”. Again, at the time my 15 year old self had a hard time believing this. Fast forward to this year 2023, I am 24 years of age. I was out on the ice coaching some power skating with the U11 girls hockey team. My first session with the girls they asked me where I played hockey. I told them I used to play for the Northern Capitals, and then I went on to play for the Dino’s at the University of Calgary. Probably 5 of the girls then shouted out that there dream is to play for the Northern Capitals one day. I t was truly in that very moment when I flashed back to my coach telling 15 year old me “young players look up to you, be a good role model for them”. It was true. I am able to see that now, especially being older, and playing for the Dino’s it was a similar story.
I feel really proud and honoured that I got to be in a position where younger people looked up to me, and looked at me to set a good example. I feel really lucky thank now as I have finished my playing career with hockey. I am now in the position of coach and young people can look up to me to be a role model in my coaching shoes. Lastly I feel lucky that I have gotten the opportunity to be an educator, and one day a teacher that students can look up to and view as a good role model. I view being a role model as a privilege. It is a role that one takes on and needs to be aware of the impact that comes along with it.
I have heard a lot that the teaching profession is a lot like acting, you are putting on this persona in the classroom that may not be who you are in your everyday life. Now I am realistic, I am still human and I want to/need to enjoy my life and do things that may only be appropriate for adults to do. With that said it is important to me to be authentic. The person I am in my classroom is the person I always want to be, it is the standard I always want to hold myself to. Young people in today’s world are so heavily influenced by social media, society is constantly comparing, judging, bullying, etc. on social media. This is what kids are surrounded by. I want all young people and even older people, when they meet me, come across my social media, or see me out for dinner… I want them to see me as a person who they look up to, a real person, who may not be perfect, but is respectable. I have been in the position of role model for majority of my life, I love the role of role model, it fulfills me and gives me purpose. It is a role I feel lucky to get to continue having in my life.
