Editor’s note: This report from The Central Trend is presented as it appeared, and is republished here as part of School News Network’s Student Voices series, in partnership with Forest Hills Public Schools.
By Scarlett Dombowski, Forest Hills Central freshman
Forest Hills — Most kids, when they’re young, recall playing the famed “Family” game in elementary school, with the “mom” having thirteen children and maybe a humanoid dog. For senior Tessa Bunting, she instead played “Teacher” with her mom, a clear example that the path set out for her has been there for as long as she can remember.
“When I was a kid, I always liked to play teacher with my mom,” Tessa said. “This year, I started teaching and doing Teacher Cadet, which I had a lot of fun with. [Because of that,] I decided it was something that I wanted to continue.”
Teacher Cadet, a program through FHC, lets aspiring teachers shadow experienced teachers, gaining skills they wouldn’t be able to learn from textbooks in a regular college. For Tessa, someone who hopes to be an elementary school teacher working with kids in 6th grade and under, she currently shadows her old kindergarten teacher, whom she loved. To see the new generation grow up over the year is truly an opportunity, one that Tessa does not at all take for granted.
“[My favorite part of teaching] is seeing their growth,” Tessa said. “I can already see them learning greetings and understanding the alphabet and numbers. From the beginning of the year to now [it’s] so awesome [to see their development].”
‘(Teaching) definitely makes me rethink a lot of things and put into perspective so many aspects about my life and how I can change them. I want (my students) to grow, and I help steer them in a better direction.’
— Tessa Bunting
Tessa is also a part of the Shared Voices Committee, a group whose purpose is to stop bullying in middle and elementary schools by putting an end to the behavior where it begins. This committee has also greatly influenced Tessa’s way of thinking and how she goes about teaching, as there is so much psychology in creating a beneficial environment for students today.
“[Shared Voices Committee] connects with teaching a lot,” Tessa said. “When we have meetings, I notice things that I’m doing in my Teacher Cadet class already. I see the types of things that they’re doing [in class] and the types of behavior that we should try to stop.”
The club and teaching in general have taught Tessa many valuable lessons. Teaching requires a certain level of maturity that the general population fails to recognize. To influence the younger generation that will someday become the people who continue the world’s legacy is an incredibly large job to put on. Educational figures do much more than just teach basic subjects; they guide students during some of the most important and vulnerable times in their lives. It also transports Tessa back to her elementary years—through teaching, she’s forced to reflect on things that happened to her during her formative years. Through these experiences, she can protect the children she spends time with from making the same mistakes many do.
“[Teaching] definitely makes me rethink a lot of things and put into perspective so many aspects about my life and how I can change them,” Tessa said. “I want [my students] to grow, and I help steer them in a better direction.”
Though, as many education majors know, the work can become exhausting. Tessa’s outlet was dancing, something she began when she was younger, looking for a sport that fully interested her and got her moving. At the age of five, she danced competitively until junior year. Her time on the dance team also modified her life, as the bonds created in such a tight-knit group were strong. After spending hours upon hours practicing with each other, they truly start to feel like family. Having this environment while navigating high school was greatly helpful for Tessa.
“I think that the dance team is really special because you build such a family bond,” Tessa said. “You’re with each other for so much time since our season is summer to winter. We’re always together. So, dancing with them makes it so much more fun.”
Without playing and trying new things, Tessa would’ve never discovered the things that she believes she’s meant for. The importance of trying even if you don’t necessarily love everything remains high in her beliefs. To appreciate something through each new experience, whether it be the people or the activity, is so valuable. Her advice for underclassmen aligns with that.
“I would tell [the younger generation] to take advantage of everything that you can and be a part of all the different clubs and organizations that you can be,” Tessa said. “And then, if you do that, take advantage of the time that you have in those communities because it’s really important.”
Read more from Forest Hills:
• From student to teacher: Goodwillie student comes full circle
• Inspiring her peers to make time to make a difference
