Image prompt: Ice cool math teacher, in the style of batman cartoons
[The following was copied and pasted from GPT-4 after I fed it a transcript of a 3 minute ramble I had recorded while walking just now and asked it to turn it into a 2000 word blog in the style of Morgan Housel]
When you're young, "cool" is often synonymous with "popular" or "trendy". It's the kind of attractiveness that induces a sense of awe in others, the kind of charisma that turns heads, the kind of charm that makes you the center of attention. But as you grow older, your definition of "cool" evolves. For me, "cool" became about making a difference, about giving back, about helping others grow and learn. And in that sense, the coolest thing I've ever done, and continue to do, is teaching.
When I was a student, I always thought teachers were cool. Not because they were popular or trendy, but because they were molding young minds, preparing us for the future, sharing their knowledge and wisdom. They were doing it not for the fame or the money – because let's face it, teaching isn't the most glamorous or high-paying job – but because they believed in the value of their work. The enormity of their responsibility was awe-inspiring, and the humility with which they embraced it was truly cool.
Eight years into my teaching career, I still believe teaching is the coolest thing I've ever done. After three years, I took a break and contemplated shifting my career to become a data analyst or a college counselor. But the pull of teaching was too strong to resist. Like the old saying goes, "if you love something, set it free. If it comes back, it’s yours." That’s exactly how I felt about teaching. Despite the challenges, the sense of fulfillment and purpose it offered was unparalleled.
Now, teaching high school math, I find joy in taking something I understand and love, and breaking it down into comprehensible pieces for my students. Sure, math can be intimidating, and many students struggle with relating mathematical concepts to real life. But that's precisely the challenge and beauty of teaching it. When you can draw connections between abstract formulas and daily life, when you can ignite a spark of interest in a student who previously dreaded math, it feels like you're doing something truly cool.
Math is not merely about numbers and formulas; it's a mindset, a life skill. It encourages logical thinking and problem-solving, it cultivates precision and attention to detail. Math is about learning from mistakes, improving, and evolving – skills that are as valuable in life as they are in the classroom.
One of my favorite equations is knowledge equals ideas times action. It's a simple equation, but it carries profound implications. If you have no ideas, no matter how much action you take, your knowledge will be zero because anything multiplied by zero is zero. On the other hand, if you have great ideas but take no action, your knowledge will still be zero. Only when you both have great ideas and take great actions can you multiply and gain substantial knowledge. I think this is a perfect illustration of the applicability of math in our daily lives and a testament to its coolness.
Teaching has allowed me to transform my passion for math into a means to inspire and motivate others. When I see my students understand a concept, when I see the spark of curiosity in their eyes, when I see them applying what they learned in real-life situations, I feel like I'm part of something bigger. That sense of contributing to the growth and development of others, the ability to positively impact their lives, is incredibly cool.
In the grand scheme of things, teaching may not be considered cool by conventional standards. But the satisfaction it brings, the changes it can spark, and the lives it can touch makes it one of the coolest things anyone can do. The version of me who sat in a classroom all those years ago could never have imagined the immense joy and fulfillment that teaching would bring. But now, as I stand at the front of the classroom, watching my students learn, grow, and succeed, I can confidently say that teaching math is the coolest thing I've ever done, and continue to do.
As we navigate life, our perspectives and priorities evolve. And along the way, our definitions of cool evolve too. For me, "cool" is about making a difference, about giving back, about helping others grow and learn. It's about using my passion for math to inspire others, to help them see the beauty and relevance of numbers and formulas in their daily lives. It's about being part of something bigger than myself. And for that, I wouldn't trade my job for anything else in the world.
Remember, the most rewarding paths often aren't the most glamorous. Sometimes, they're the ones that let you touch lives and make a difference. And in the end, isn't that the coolest thing of all?