No One Can Outrun Purpose

By way of my eleventh grade curriculum, I was introduced to the “This I Believe” project. I used my teacher magic to create buy-in by packaging the unit as an amazing opportunity for students to think deeply about their own beliefs and share one of them in as brief or as lengthy a piece as they desire. I like to model what I ask students to do, so I wrote my own piece about purpose. Featured as today's blogpost, I titled my essay, "No One Can Outrun Purpose." At the core of these pieces is the desire to inspire readers. Hopefully, you will enjoy reading a little about me and also see yourself in some way. Check out thisibelieve.org to read other inspirational pieces. Who knows? You may even be moved to submit your own essay. Enjoy...

To date, through teaching, I have had the opportunity to serve as an educator in three countries.

Interestingly, my dream as a young girl was not to teach. Early on, while attending school in Jamaica, my native land, I recognized that I had a knack for subject areas that require extensive reading and writing. I excelled in both English and Literature, and my friends thought I took the best notes in our Caribbean History class. It was no surprise then, that when I attended Shortwood Teachers’ College at 17 years old, it was to pursue teaching credentials in Secondary Education, majoring in Linguistics and Literature.

But I had no desire to become a teacher. My dream was to be employed in any branch of mass communication. At that time, I had my sights set on broadcasting. Why then did I attend teachers’ college? In Jamaica, high school culminates at year 11. Students then either join the workforce, or those who intend to pursue post-secondary studies attend 6th form for two years to complete what is called A-levels, and thereby secure their path to The University of the West Indies or some other tertiary institution. 

It must have been God - albeit inaudibly - who gave me a brilliant suggestion. Instead of  doing two years of A- levels, why not attend teachers’ college for three years - just one additional year -  and earn teaching credentials “just in case?” So off to Shortwood Teachers’ College I went.

It had to be God. Upon graduating from Shortwood, diploma in tow, I started sending out applications. Somewhere along the line, I no longer had a burning desire to pursue studies in the field of communications, but I still had no intention of teaching. I applied for every job I could think of outside of teaching. When all attempts to secure work proved futile, I reluctantly applied for a teaching position. It was 1997. The school was St. Mary’s College, a public high school in St. Catherine, Jamaica. I was offered the job to teach 7th and 10th graders Language Arts, and alas, I had found my passion! I taught for three years in Jamaica, and fourteen years in the Bahamas before migrating to the United States where my teaching journey continues.

Many see only the coveted holidays for which they envy educators, and in pure oblivion, spew venomous nonsense. Little do they know that the other side of teaching is tough terrain. And that’s deliberate euphemism. Teachers face a laundry list of issues, but those who recognize and embrace the work as a calling chock these ever increasing issues up to “those things that come with the territory” and keep on serving sacrificially.  

It is pointless to rehearse the numerous ills of this noble profession. Why do that when - believe it or not - the drawbacks pale in comparison to the rewards? Rewards  like seeing those who long left my classroom make their mark on society. Rewards like being  trusted to be god-mother to my children’s children. There are thirty-plus year olds from whom I get a “Hello Mommy,” or “Hi Ms. Williams,” every so often. One such texter was my beloved boat captain son whose most recent hello came with a picture indicating that he was still at sea. 

My children are lawyers and doctors whom I can call on for advice. Free advice. Principals who touch base just to share what traits they learned from me and now instill in their teachers. They are fearless, passion-driven entrepreneurs, bankers, teachers, nurses, and industrious employees in many other fields. Best of all, they have had encounters with God and have embraced their call to advancing the Kingdom of God. I have children who have hounded me on social media just to say thank you. I have traveled hundreds of miles just to  hear one daughter’s name called as she receives a dual degree. 

I’ve grieved too as the “real” parents inform me that “my” children have passed and request tributes for obituaries. Two years ago when a beloved son of mine passed from complications after suffering from a bout of the monstrous Covid, it was my only biological daughter who called bearing the news: “Mommy, I’m so sorry, but your son didn’t make it.” I wept bitterly and still do when I recall how our relationship had blossomed from student to friend over the years. 

I should mention that when I first moved to the United States, I had told myself that I would change careers. Silly me. Having heard horrific tales about disciplinary issues in American classrooms, I had firmly decided that the Jamaican teacher I am would not be a good fit for an American classroom. Silly me. I went as far as enrolling in a local community college and completing a dental assistant program. Sticking out like a sore thumb among its other framed companions, proof of my moment of waywardness hangs in my home office, but it will never be used. Truth be told, it was a waste of time and money. I sent out numerous applications to dental offices with not a single  response. It had to be God.

Deep inside, I knew it wouldn’t be long before I was back in the classroom, and it wasn’t. I have taught in two school districts so far, and my passion has not waned.  Years ago, while evaluating a class I was teaching, a principal in the Bahamas described me as “a veteran teacher with the enthusiasm of a first-year teacher.” I never want to lose the fulfillment I get from teaching. But I doubt that will happen, for I believe that teaching is my God-given calling.

A God-given calling is one that fulfills us; one that serves our fellow man in some way; one that - if need be - will chase us and find us. This, I believe.