Great Stories
Montana Campus Corps:
College Students Meeting Critical Community Needs
Would I make a Difference? by Marti Alltucker

There is so much more to being a teacher than teaching. Some would say it is the meetings, the grading, the early mornings, the classroom management...but for me the greatest thing about teaching is getting to know the students. At the beginning, most student teachers are deathly afraid of standing up in front of the students and teaching the class. That fear quickly subsided for me (which is extremely helpful) and the next emotion that consumed me was the overwhelming need to know and to understand the students. I only had one semester in a AA school. So I was nervous that in that short amount of time I wouldn't be able to actually connect with any of the students. It didn't happen overnight but I think it happened. I asked every one of my students what their interests were and how they were doing in school. Slowly over time, I got to know these students and they got to know me. Once this happened, teaching was even more fun. Towards the end of the semester my students and I started to get sad about my departure. My cooperating teacher, with the help of several of my students, planned a going-away party for me at lunch on my last day. That day I received cards, shirts, a huge cake and pizza. But above all else, I got to spend more time with my students. I see them around town every once in a while, and they are now excited to tell me about what is going on in their lives now. To me, that experience has made me feel that I did make a difference in someones life.

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