In sixth grade at Miami Shores Elementary School, I had a special privilege: I was chosen to be an assistant in a first grade classroom. The program was called Teachers of Tomorrow, most often known as TOTs.
Becoming a Teacher of Tomorrow
Sixth-grade students were selected for a TOT role or a Safety Patrol role based on grades and a teacher recommendation because they would have to miss class time. I chose the TOT role because I loved the idea of helping out in the classroom.
TOTs served in the classroom in teams of two or three. When we gathered for the initial meeting, a new sixth-grader asked if I wanted to team up with her, and I said yes. We got to request the teacher we wanted to work with. My new friend wanted to serve in her little brother’s classroom.
His teacher, Esther Criswell, was the coordinator of the whole program. She was well-known as an excellent teacher and very compassionate. I knew we’d learn a lot from her and she would be a source of encouragement for us.
I went home after the meeting, nervous and excited to get started the next day.
Picnic Lunches at School
One of the TOT privileges was to eat an early lunch at the outdoor picnic tables, instead of eating inside the cafeteria where all classes were required to eat together. We lived in Miami, Florida, so the weather was good for eating outside throughout the school year. It felt almost surreal when I sat down at those outdoor tables for the first time.
We were largely unsupervised during our early lunch and were expected to be on our best behavior. Of course, the outdoor tables were in the patio surrounded my classrooms with the windows open and right outside the administrative offices. If we had caused a ruckus, it wouldn’t have lasted long.
Getting Started in the Classroom
After lunch, my teammate and I walked into the first grade classroom. I was nervous, wondering if I’d be able to do all that was asked of me. But I trusted the teacher and knew she was very kind. If I didn’t know how to do something, I was sure she would teach me. And I wasn’t alone—my new friend and teammate was with me, and a parent volunteer was also there to help.
I had been a student at Miami Shores Elementary since kindergarten, so I had once sat in a first grade classroom like this one. The desks were little tables made for two students with cubbyholes where they could keep their school supplies. The students had big beginner pencils and crayons. The walls were decorated with construction paper shapes and drawings.
As the teacher introduced us, the children seemed interested to meet us and talk to us. Some were very vocal while others were quiet until spoken to. One little girl was so shy she wouldn’t look up. I was shy too, so I made it my mission to coax her out of her shell.
Our job was to help with whatever the teacher was working on that day. We helped with art projects, math lessons, reading practice—whatever needed extra hands. We felt that we were giving the teacher a boost so she could focus on the bigger lesson while we helped at individual tables. Sometimes, the teacher would give us the floor and let us lead our own activities.
Getting to Know the Students
Quickly, we got to know the names of the children and their personalities. One little girl updated me every day on how her family was doing. She seemed to enjoy sharing her stories and trusted me to listen.
I’ll never forget the little boy who asked me to marry him. I thanked him, told him we were probably too young, but that I really appreciated his thoughtfulness. He beamed and stood up taller in response.
Every day, I tried in different ways to encourage the shy little girl. I didn’t try to put her on the spot or draw attention to her shyness. I just found ways to interact and draw her out. I was glad to see her becoming more interactive as the school year went on. She seemed to be benefiting from the support of some encouraging friends in her class.
I’ll always remember the day near the end of the school year when she was willing to read something out loud and look around the room with confidence. I congratulated her, and she smiled when I told her how much I liked what she read. Her friends told her she did a good job.
A Lifelong Love of Teaching
As I interacted with the first-graders each day, I had no idea I was discovering a love of teaching and encouragement. I just knew it was fun to be in the classroom helping them. It felt like a lot of responsibility too. I felt like I was part of their care team, and I was so proud and protective of them.
Looking back now, I can see how those moments planted seeds for the future. I would spend most of my career teaching, guiding, mentoring, and encouraging. Early experiences can reveal lifelong strengths and joys.
Celebrate Your Talents and What You Enjoy—and Stay Present in the Moment
You may already have gifts you don’t fully notice yet. Enjoy and celebrate the talents, joys, things you love doing. You never know where those experiences might lead. One day, you might look back—as I am now—and see the threads connecting moments and experiences.
At the same time, I encourage you to be fully present in each day. Enjoy each moment as it comes. Every day holds tiny seeds of who you’re becoming, yet each day is also a gift. Focus on the day, breathe, and be fully present in it. Enjoy being you.
Exploring Generations 