Something I need to continue to work on is my patience. I was never a patient person, whenever I wanted something, I'd want it immediately, but obviously that isn't how life works.

When I work with children, my patience is higher than it normally is (a surprise even to me). Of course, there are times where I feel like I have had enough, but I always try to reign in my sharp remarks because when I was little, I made plenty of mistakes that I didn't mean to do. So when I try to reprimand students now, I try to show them that I care about them and not simply just scold them.

I try to talk softer, telling them that they know better and that I don't anyone to get hurt. I tell them that they're good and that I know they mean well. And I think it's important to say that, to tell them that I know they're good kids because it shows I have faith in them. If you don't have faith in them, how will they have faith in themselves? They will take the role you readily set for them.

Yesterday, I was supervising older elementary school students and because I'm not normally around them, I felt out of place. There were new social issues that I was not used to handling and needed far more attention than I expected. Even though, they were older, they seemed more fragile than the younger kids because they know exactly what's happening in the world, whether it's on a social or mental level. I was surprised by how much angst they had, crying every half hour, complaining about everything but still managing to scream and run around as though they inhaled chocolate in every meal.

But when I spoke to them individually, they listened, really listened. When I spoke logically and meaningfully, they soaked in every word I said and afterward would try not to repeat the offense. I could see the remorse and guilt on their faces; they really do want to behave.

I don't know why, but it really made me proud of these kids that I've never met. I'm truly in awe by them. On the surface, any adult could become easily frustrated with their antics, but as I spent time with them, I could clearly see their qualities. They may not be honest all the time, but their facial expressions and actions don't lie. When they hurt someone's feeling, they try their best to apologize and comfort them. They have good intentions.

With that said, I need to try to be more patient with my 2nd graders and wait for their real characters to shine through. Instead of just thinking of them as kids, I need to view them as individuals that are slowly transforming into young adults.