Post 5

            Empathy really stuck out to me in Greason and Cashwell’s article. Empathy is defined as the ability to suspend judgment and bias, to walk in another person’s shoes, and to understand another’s world (Greason and Cashwell, 2009). I have a very difficulty time having empathy for my students as a teacher. Knowing this, I believe that I will have a difficult time having empathy as a counselor. I feel the reason I struggle with empathy is because at times, it can be used as an excuse. I cannot tell you how many times I have heard, “Mr. Hooper, I did not do my homework last night because…” or “Mr. Hooper, I did not complete my make up work because…” I simply cannot stand excuses! Teaching children that excuses will not be accepted, and that expectations need to be met is a priority of mine. As a result, many of my students complete their homework and makeup work at home because they do not want to suffer the consequences.

I often question how it would be if I were more empathetic. Wouldn’t I be holding them back from their true potential? Who will push them to be successful? Don’t get me wrong, I am empathic regarding certain situations. I have a very similar background compared to many of my students, and I do put myself in their shoes. However, if I am not the one challenging them, who is? I feel that my position as a teacher and my position as a counselor are quite similar. However, as a counselor, I will need to be more accepting and more understanding of a student’s background. I can hold students to higher expectations as a counselor by pushing them to find meaning and successes in their own life instead of academics and behavior.

            Reading chapter 5 hit home. During our group discussion on Tuesday, Susanne asked if I was feeling burnout because of the job or because of myself. It was hard for me to answer due to the fact that I feel that it is both. I feel that being a teacher is very strenuous and demanding. As a teacher, I do not simply teach, I wear many hats. I am proud to be a teacher, and I would be the last person to say that I hate my job. However, besides teaching during the day, I have to attend meetings, analyze data, contact parents, differentiate my instruction, plan ahead, and help mold students to be successful in future (just to name a few haha). My job requirements are not simple. It is my choice to perform the duties and obligations that I feel most important. It is my choice to be an effective teacher. It is my choice to go above and beyond. Saying this, I have the tendency to feel like Arista (Corey and Corey, 2010). I know that I put a lot of pressure on myself. I am a perfectionist, and I push myself, just like I push my students.

            Would I that I have burnout if I were not a perfectionist? I asked myself this question as I drove home from class on Tuesday night. Once again, it is hard to answer. I then asked myself…Would I be an effective teacher if I were not a perfectionist, hardworking, caring, selfless, etc…? I know that I cannot continue to push myself to the brink as I am now. There is not way I will be able to last another 2 or 3 years if I were to. I have to find a way to cope with this stress. To be honest, I feel that I have shown resilience throughout my life. Resilience is the capacity of individuals to bounce back form major events with minimal negative effects (Corey and Corey, 2010). Burnout and stress were not words that I would have correlated with my life until this class. My resiliency has gotten me this far.

            At the same time, it is good that I am recognizing that I am working towards burnout, and I am stressed. I simply thought that it was a part of adulthood, my job, and my life. I have always thought that becoming more mature leads to more responsibility and hard work. Identifying this is the fist step. Now, I need to find a way to be successful as a professional while being happy as a person.

Corey, G. & Corey, M. S. (2010). Your Body and Wellness. In Brooks/Cole (9^th edition), I Never Knew I Had a Choice (106-131). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning.

Greason, P.B, & Cashwell, C.S. (2009). Mindfulness and Counseling Self Efficacy: The Mediating Role of Attention and Empathy.