It was a sunny day when I signed up for a summer entrepreneur position that ended up being the most challenging 2 years of my life! It was here that I learned all about customer service and teaching young adult learners. This was a very different experience and arguably the most challenging yet. As I walked away from the business back in 2018, I realized that my personality type didn't suit those of an entrepreneur, but I did have a passion for teaching, whether young or old, teaching is teaching!
I hired mostly undergraduate students on a temporary contract basis for the summer season. I've gone through many potential recruits, and ended up letting go quite a few. While at first, it was very difficult to let go of people after I took lots of time to carefully train them, I learned that just like me, some might not be suitable for a certain position and rather than forcing them to accept a role that they will not enjoy, it is most likely a better option for them to go find another job that they can enjoy even more. Although this is different than in the classroom, I think the resounding rationale behind teaching stays the same. In a classroom setting, students have different learning styles and rather than forcing students to adopt a traditional lecture-type learning style, it's up to the teacher to cater to student needs allowing them to find their own paths in life. This is the versatility that school allows. With a job, it is typically the duty of the employee to follow the path set up by the company and employer and carry out their duties. Since children are not legal to work in Ontario, I think this suggests that aside from the safety concerns, children may not know how they work best in different situations and thus should not apply to jobs not knowing what their learning styles are. Undergraduate students are adults, and most would know if they would like a painting position for a job, or at the very least know how to paint. For example, I know I need to get up and get active during my day, and thus a position as an office worker is one I will most likely never apply for unless exceptional circumstances compels me to apply otherwise because I know that is not suitable for me. Rather than going to work with a frown, not enjoying my job, and potentially dragging down the whole work environment, I prefer to thrive in an area where I enjoy and can contribute in a positive manner. However that's not to say that trying new things is not a good thing, rather if I were to try something out, I would do so in a volunteering position where temporary positions are very common. Having the uncomfortable conversations with my employees after a week on the job was what made the job that much more difficult. It was important for me to stress the needs of my employee, making sure that they felt valued for their work that they contributed to the company. I offered them some other types of employment with different companies such as Mr. Lube and Pizza Pizza, since they were my clients that I had painted for in the past and know the work ethic of my employees. I think this marked a major stepping stone in my path as an educator because as a teacher, I need to have uncomfortable conversations with students on occasion, whether about marks, about their behaviours, or even attire. This is a crucial skill to have in any position and I know it was thanks to my business that I got this experience. If I keep in mind my employees or students well-beings in a classroom setting, I know I will have the confidence in conducting these uncomfortable conversations, albeit, if I do not want to, because it can be for their benefits and protections as well. Teaching adult learners was very different than tutoring younger children and teens because like I mentioned above, most already know what their preferred learning styles are. I also had to keep a fine balance between "lecturing" (providing instructions) and independent work because being so close in age (I also had a couple of painters who were older than me, and were in the painting profession for years before I was), I had to be careful not to belittle their abilities and ensure autonomy as well. I developed a coaching strategy that I thought worked pretty well in which I would demonstrate how I would perform a certain action, for example, making cut lines, and I would demonstrate how I would hold my paint brush and why I would do so in a particular way. This way, the purpose and the most efficient way to do this (in my opinion) is shown to them and if they believe there is another method that is easier, they are free to try it out. I also provided ample time for them to practice, walking about the entire room of painters, and making myself approachable on an individual basis if anyone has questions or other things that they want to try. I think working with the older students especially, this would be a great method to teach as I know with UDL, DI's and inquiry based learnings, students learn better if they take control of their own learning and find their own ways to do something. Many times, I found that a new and improved method could be used to add to my repertoire and continue my growth as an entrepreneur and educator, after all, 2 teach is 2 learn 4ever.
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AuthorHi! Thanks for taking the time to read about my journey. I hope you can take something from my experiences and share yours in return. Don't be shy! Archives
September 2021
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