Back in 2005, fresh out of college with a teaching degree and license, I was ready to change the world. It only took one day in the classroom to realize that everything I’d learned about teaching was based on ideal conditions, and my reality was far from it. Teaching co-ed 8th grade Health at an under-resourced school in Las Vegas was overwhelming. I spent 80% of my energy just managing behavior, which made it nearly impossible to teach effectively. The pressure of keeping up with curriculum standards, while navigating constant behavioral issues, left me drained and frustrated every day.
After two tough years, I decided to leave teaching. I probably would’ve left sooner, but I felt guilty about giving up on something I was passionate about and had invested so much in. I transitioned into the health and fitness industry, where I worked in various roles for eight years. While I loved it, a part of me still missed teaching. Then, a few years ago, a friend introduced me to Sunrise RTC.
At Sunrise, I realized that many of the challenges I faced as a teacher were the same ones my students had encountered before coming to Sunrise. They had disengaged from school, and in some cases, stopped going altogether. Here are five reasons why:
- Lack of Social Connection – As humans, we need social connections to thrive. When we lose those connections, it becomes hard to succeed in any area, including education. In my first teaching role, I was so focused on being authoritative and structured that I missed the chance to connect personally with my students. I see this with my current students too—when they lack personal connection and accountability, their motivation to engage in school disappears.
- Unclear or Unrealistic Expectations – When I started teaching, I thought that modeling healthy behaviors would automatically inspire my students to follow suit. But I quickly got frustrated when that didn’t happen. Similarly, many of my students at Sunrise have expressed feeling overwhelmed by expectations they don’t think they can meet.
- Feelings of Inadequacy or Incompetence – My failure to connect with students and my unrealistic expectations led to failure after failure. I started feeling inadequate, angry, and sad. Many of our students come to Sunrise carrying these same emotions, having struggled with feelings of inadequacy from comparing themselves to others or putting unnecessary pressure on themselves.
- Falling Behind and Feeling Hopeless – The more I disconnected from my students, the more frustrated and inadequate I felt, and the further behind I fell in my teaching. It’s hard to stay motivated when you’re not enjoying the work. Many of our students come to Sunrise already behind academically. They’ve lost their connections, feel overwhelmed, stop attending school, and eventually give up on trying to catch up.
Through a lot of reflection, I began to grow personally and professionally. Though I enjoyed my other jobs, something still felt missing. I was lucky to find Sunrise, where I could teach with more freedom and build deeper relationships with my students. Just as Sunrise became a perfect fit for me, I’ve seen the same happen for our students—arriving here at the right time for their growth.
By drawing on my own experiences, I’ve been able to build stronger relationships with my students. I’ve learned that when I connect with them on a personal level, they’re more engaged and accountable in both my class and school. Sunrise’s relational and growth-focused approach creates a less restrictive and more effective learning environment for both teaching and learning.
