Teaching Passion

Passion: a strong or extravagant fondness, enthusiasm, or desire for anything

Over the past few summers, I have had the opportunity to work with several high school- and college-age students. Although the work itself has not been the most beneficial to my wallet, it was enjoyable, somewhat relaxing, and gave me the opportunity to observe the social life of the modern American teenager.

Now I feel a lot older than I should. . .

One of my coworkers in particular really gave me pause. As far as I can tell she is somewhere between 18 and 20 years old. She attends a college that is very well-known for its party scene. And on more than one occasion, she came in to work either hungover from a night of heavy partying or still somewhat inebriated.

She was very open about her adventures, at times providing lurid details. Lurid only because I hardly knew this girl - as a coworker, I shouldn't be hearing this stuff! I think that most of us can claim that we have done some things in our own lives that can be described as "questionable behavior," but this girl seemed to have no qualms about anything!

She didn't seem to have much else going on her life either. Most conversations revolved around stories about these adventures. I never once heard her talk about other things that she was doing in school, what she was studying, interests that she had. . . it was all about the partying.

One conversation that I had with her clarified a lot about her life. What follows is an approximation of that conversation. For the sake of privacy we will call our party girl "Roberta" and another girl who is referred to in the conversation will be named "Wilma."

"Roberta": So why does "Wilma" need the whole weekend off?

Me: Because her brother is getting married.

"Roberta": Woo-hoo! Guess she'll be getting all loaded up then!

Me: Actually, no. She's my age and I know that that is not how she works. She actually told me the other day that the last time she went out to dinner with her husband, she had one glass of wine and was ready for bed.

"Roberta": What!? Man, anytime I go to wedding, I get totally blitzed!

Me: Well, when you get a little older, that starts to lose its luster. You'll get there some day.

"Roberta": Doubt it. My dad's in his fifties and he still parties like he's in his 20s. Just the other night he called from [one of the local bars] to ask me to come pick him up. I could hardly understand what he was saying. It was soooo funny!


As we all know, the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree.


After that conversation, I was at first angry. I have always felt that it is the "job", among others, of parents to be role models for their children. How can a parent lead that kind of example for their child!? Over the course of a couple of days, that anger morphed into sorrow. I'm all for getting the most out of life, but that includes being sober enough to make the most out of the days when you are permitted to decide what you want to do. Too bad that it seems she will be spending many of her days nursing a hangover.

So what can I do about this? Well, her situation is a lost cause to me. I don't believe I'll ever see her again, nor do I think that any amount of talking to her about this would have made a difference. What did she miss along the line that did not seem to elude my other co-workers?


At the time that this conversation occurred, I had been working on some job application stuff, not the least of which was that dreaded "Candidate's Statement." This short, All-About-Me type of blurb has turned out to be some of the most difficult 200 words I have ever written.

Why do I want to teach?

I considered my coworker's situation. I had run across kids like this before - how could I effect their outcome were I given the chance? As with most things, I pondered this for several days and as the reasons slowly solidified in mind.

I want to be a role model for those students who might not have one to look up to.

I want to inspire.

I want to teach not only about my subject matter, music, but also about life.

I want to teach my students to be passionate.


I feel that what this girl missed at some point was someone in her life to say, "Hey it's great that you're interested in [insert subject matter here.] Have you considered it as a course of study or as a possible career path?" - someone tell her how important it is to find something that you enjoy doing and make that a major part of your life and how important it is to be a productive member of society. There is no guarantee that you will land a job that you will love going to every day, that will pay you what you want (much less pay you what you need!), that will be what you went to school for, that will include co-workers that are easy to work with, and on and on. . .

I am by no means a career counselor but over the past couple years I have talked to a lot of people about career paths, job searches and the like. I have worn several different hats in my life. I do know that it takes lot of work to find that "perfect" job, something which I am still working on.

I also know what happens when, for whatever reason, you lose track of that which you are passionate about.

I spent several years working in a local hotel. I took the job because I needed something to live on. I worked, was promoted a couple times, received raises and became someone that was relied on to handle a myriad of situations and learned an immense amount from working there. BUT - in the time that I was there, I did very little of what I was, and am, truly passionate about. That, of course, being music. I am now slowly rediscovering this passion and, suffice to say, it has been a very revealing experience.

I feel that part of responsibility as educators is not simply to impart knowledge of a given subject. It is not only to teach respect. It is not just to help students "make it through." Sure, we need to know as much as we can about the subject that we teach. But it is equally important to have a breadth of knowledge to engage students in conversation about what they are passionate about. Encourage them to use that passion to be a productive member of society. Who knows? They might be happier in the end.

And, in some way, they might thank you for it.