Life as a Teacher: Living the Hero's Journey
By Stephen Hurley
2/13/08
One of the main themes that has grounded and inspired this first year of the arts@newman program at Cardinal Newman School, in Toronto, has been "stories of home." Not only has this theme provided us with a powerful lens through which we can look at various aspects of our program; it has also allowed us to make use of a very powerful story structure -- one I encountered many years ago through the writings of Joseph Campbell (primarily, The Hero with a Thousand Faces) and, most recently, through Christopher Vogler's work The Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers.
In a subsequent entry, I'll post some ideas about how we have used this perspective in our language arts program, but here, I want to pick up another thread and present a question to those of you involved in this journey we call teaching.
In myths, one of the first stages of the hero's journey is the call to adventure. Vogler describes this stage as the point at which "the hero is presented with a problem, challenge, or adventure to undertake. Once presented with a call to adventure, she can no longer remain indefinitely in the comfort of the ordinary world."
I had the opportunity to spend more than three years working with teacher candidates at the University of Toronto's Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. Part of the coursework I did involved exploring the reasons people are drawn to teach. Many participants described a moment in their lives when they knew teaching was for them. For some, it happened very early in their own schooling; for others, it didn't happen until they were busy doing other things: raising a family, working in another profession, or going through a personal crisis.
Over the past several weeks, as I've delved more and more into the works of both Campbell and Vogler, I have found myself thinking about our teaching careers as a type of hero's journey. I thought that it might be interesting to hear from other teachers -- those new to the profession and those who have been around for awhile -- about this idea of a call to adventure.
My questions: What was it that caused you to embark on this journey? What drew you to this adventure? Did you initially refuse the call, or were you quick to answer it?
What's your story?
My call to adventure came to
Submitted by Maynard Reed (not verified) on June 10, 2008 - 07:09.
My call to adventure came to me as I was lying in a hospital bed. I was 18 and a star football player @ my school when I started having severe headaches caused by a cyst in my brain. After my surgery, I'm lying in the hospital bed in a children's hospital feeling sorry for myself because I wouldn't be able to play football again. I began to look around me at all these kids, some with incurable diseases, some with more temporary conditions, and I started thinking what I would do now in my life. I wanted to help kids; however, I knew I didn't want to be a doctor (way too squeamish), so to me, the best profession after being a doctor was teaching. From there, I dedicated my energies into becoming the best teacher I could,and after 15 years, I'm still struggling through the hero's journey, but I am happy with the choice I made.
Life as a Teacher: Living the Hero's Journey
Submitted by Michelle Fajardo (not verified) on June 3, 2008 - 07:13.
My journey in becoming a teacher is right around the corner. Teaching has always been a part of me since I was a little girl, and as I get closer to pursuing my dream I want it even more. Throughout my life I have had teachers that have impacted my life in a positive way. Some kids refer to their teachers as their heros and what better title. I want to be that hero or just that person that made a difference for somebody. I want to help out children and fufill their lives with knowledge because I believe that knowledge is power. I am on my way to living a hero's journey!
Your Journey
Submitted by S. Hurley (not verified) on June 3, 2008 - 16:27.
Michelle,
Best wishes as you begin this fantastic journey...there will be plenty of things that excite you, some that frustrate you, and some that make you wonder whether you're doing the right thing. The Hero's Journey is necessarily full of twists and turns, allies, mentors, as well as those that seem like they are adversaries.
I have found the metaphor helpful in reminding me that this is a journey and not just a job!
I would love to hear how your first year goes...Live the dream!
Stephen Hurley
Life as a teacher
Submitted by Jill Simmons (not verified) on March 4, 2008 - 06:37.
My name is Jill Simmons. I am just starting my Master's at Olivet Nazarine University. When I was in college, I was very uncertain what I wanted to be. As a freshman, I was in medical school for radiography, in hopes of one day being a radiation therapist. Then, I changed my mind and it almost seemed to depend on the day what my major was. It wasn't until my third year of college when I finally figured out what to do. Through my part time job working with severely handicapped children, I realized I had a gift for working with children and those with disablities. This is my fifth year teaching special education. At times, it is a struggle but that can happen in any job. The struggle seems to change as soon as you see your kids. They make it all worth it.
Being a Hero
Submitted by Jeanine Horner (not verified) on March 2, 2008 - 07:12.
My name is Jeanine Horner and I am a Master's student at ONU. One of our first assignments was to discuss with our group what brought us into the profession of teaching. I can honestly say that it was my love for children. I feel that children are our doorway to the future and I want to instill in them to be the very best that they can be. I knew from a very young age that I wanted to help educate others, and that's when my journey to becoming a hero first started.
On being a hero
Submitted by S Hurley (not verified) on February 29, 2008 - 01:43.
I'm enjoying reading your stories about what brought you to teaching. The term "hero" likely conjures up different images in different people's minds. In looking at our careers in teaching through the lens of the Hero's Journey structure, I think that its important to note that heroism isn't the goal of the journey. We don't set out on the journey in order to return home with a hero's crown on our head. This may be the result some days/years, but it isn't the goal of the journey.
For me, the power of the lens lies in its ability to see our journey as one of personal transformation and growth. We are called to this profession and, once on the road, we meet a whole array of allies, mentors, and guides. We also meet dangers, encounter setbacks, and engage in "battles". As a result of our journey, we become changed people, and we have the power to use that sense of personal change to change the lives of others.
That's a pretty simple summary, and I throw it into the mix at this point, so that people don't get too frightened off by the word "hero".
I would love to hear more stories about how you found yourself called to this adventure!
Stephen Hurley
Life as a Teacher: Living the Hero's Journey
Submitted by Mary Ann (not verified) on February 28, 2008 - 07:16.
My name is Mary Ann. I wanted to become a teacher for as long as I can remember. I can remember in grade school always wanting to help the teacher out. I would also enjoy helping out other students. I decided to go into Physcial Education because that area interested me the most. I excelled in athletics and enjoyed helping others in fitness activities and sporting events. I have had many "heros" in my life and wanted to give back to others in the same way.
Life as a teacher: The Hero's Journey
Submitted by Tim (not verified) on February 28, 2008 - 05:58.
I have always wanted to do something that I thought would help people, and when I was in high school I had a teacher who was amazing. He made being a teacher seem like the greatest job in the world. This is when I decided to become a teacher and I have never been disappointed with my decision. I love the idea that everyday I come to work I can make a difference in someones life, that is an incredible responsibility. I don't think of myself as a hero and we don't always know if we are making the impact that we want to, but once in a while you get that afformation and it is so rewarding. I am in my 13th year of teaching and I am just as excited today as I was when I started and it seems like the students need positive role models now more that ever.
Life as a Teacher: Living the Hero's Dream
Submitted by Jenny (not verified) on February 25, 2008 - 14:54.
Teaching has always been a dream of mine, as a child I would gather paper and crayons and pretend to teach my stuffed animals. Yes it sounds silly but looking back I realize that it has always been a passion of mine to teach and inspire my students to try their best. Helping children learn is what gives me the drive to want to be a teacher. When I saw the heading of this post I was excited to read it because I know that I agree with the topic. Education is the field that helps shape what our future will become. To some students their teacher is their hero, they open their mind to such new and exciting things. I work in a preschool classroom and have been doing so for the past 3 years, and seeing those little faces when I tell them that we are going to be painting or playing blocks is what makes my day and inspires me to keep doing what I do.
the Hero's Journey
Submitted by Jeff Beckford (not verified) on February 25, 2008 - 14:20.
I am too am in college wnating to become a teacher. I don't have any special reason why except for maybe a love of literature. I guess the one reason I can think of is I have enjoyed many of the books I've read and want to see others appreciating that same literature. Not only do I want others to enjoy and appreciate the literature, without knowledge they can not continue the arts of poetry and storytelling. So I'm probably less of a hero to the students and more of a hero to literature in general. All this talk about helping others is, in my opinion, a little bit trite- it should be an unspoken rule for anyone in any given society. I think this way because the things we do in public and private should somehow benifit others- why else are we here?
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