I wish they knew...

Earlier this year, a statement went viral, schools and teachers all over the world were asking their students to complete the sentence "I wish my Teacher knew...."
Teachers were getting powerful responses about the lack of resources students had, how their parents weren't present and how their self esteem affected how they learned or contributed.


There is so much I wish the students at school where I chaplain would tell me or their class teacher. I wish they would tell us if they haven't got food, that they didn't do their homework because their parents didn't know how to do it so couldn't assist them, that things are really hard from them at home with their responsibilities at home they are always worried.

Personal life impacts how people learn and there are some students who battle so much internally and in their personal life just to attend each day of school.

There was so much I wish I told my teachers when I was at school, that I was trying to process and understand in my personal life. I never shared with them, i coped fine through school, but I wonder if I had the language then, to share what was going on for me, how much better off would I have been in school.  

There is a lot I wish my lecturers at uni knew now.  I'm learning now that it's important to communicate some things which are distracting or putting a barrier between successful study.  I'm still learning how to do this in a way which doesn't cross the personal and professional line and a way which expresses what I need.  

I wish my uni lecturers knew...

• I have limited internet access so it limits my ability to study unless I'm at church.
• I am not good at time management, because i underestimate how long things are going to take.
• That I actually try so hard and just feel so lost in it all.  
• I don't understand big words and often get lost in the books, readings, class conversations.
• That I'm actually the hardest critic on my own work.
• That I'm never going to be an academic, I'm just studying because I believe God called me too.
• That as I write most of my assignments I cry, because I really care and don't wanna let them down by handing up something which is rubbish.
• That sometimes there is so much going on with family and friends that I need to/want to prioritize over class and assignments. 
• I really struggle with a lack of confidence in my study and my ministry.
• I respect them for their commitment, knowledge and time they spend with students, so much more than I could ever express. 

I wonder what would happen if I actually told my lecturers this, some of this my lecturers know and can see in my personality and in our conversations, but if I started each semester in the get to know you section of the class telling them this, would it change the relationship of student/teacher? would it help them to identify with my questions? 

I'm not special in the sense that I'm the only one in the class going through the room, I understand that, I'm not looking for special treatment.  I guess I just wonder how I can express my concerns, challenges and life in an emotional intelligent way which will help me to be more successful as I approach my study in the future.