Stepping Into The Self Podcast: Is this what being a student should feel like?

Listening to this podcast made me feel loved. Silly as it is, Stephanie Renee Payne’s smooth voice felt to me like a warm, cozy, safe blanket, and her words were even more comforting. Even though I’m not Stephanie Renee’s student, I felt like she cared about me and what I have to say. Throughout the podcast I found myself wondering, is this what being a student should feel like?

I mean, I’ve been a student for most years of my life, and I’ve had many great teachers, but also many neutral or negative experiences. And even with the great teachers, I’ve never experienced the level of care for students that Stephanie Renee discussed in the podcast. I’m talking strictly about my academic classes, because arts classes like acting and choir are fundamentally different.

For example, Stephanie Renee talked about the importance of names and identity, and how she asks all her students to say their full name and where it came from. Like, she clearly sees importance in who her students are.

Meanwhile, multiple of my teachers in high school consistently called me Angela instead of Amanda, for like an entire year, even after I corrected them. Even in emails, where my name was right there in my sign-off AND in my email address!!?? It’s a small thing and it doesn’t really bother me, but hearing Stephanie Renee talk about the importance of identity and the name you choose to go by made me feel like maybe it is a bit of a problem.

Furthermore, Stephanie Renee talked about how students can be different types of learners, and how that changes the way she teaches. See, I remember taking that “learning types” quiz in MANY of my classes. After taking it, the teacher would be like “Ok, you’re a visual learner :)” and then proceed to teach the entire class the same way and make us all do the exact same assignments. What’s the point then?

I particularly loved what Stephanie Renee said about having students get out of the classroom during class. There were so many moments throughout my education where I felt so out of it during class, and dreaded sitting through a lecture for an hour and a half. I personally love moving around during class and really interacting with something rather than just listening to my teacher talk. Getting out of my seat and engaging in something meaningful would have really helped me.

I also really agreed with her method of grouping students together for a project, and having them go out for a meal together. I think this is so important! Students really connecting with one another and forming bonds and trust is so essential, especially when they’re working together to create something. I wish my teachers pushed us to do the same in my academic classes. Learning is often a lot easier and more fun when collaboration is involved. Exchanging ideas with other students makes learning so much more alive and in motion.

When Stephanie Renee talked about the importance of having a “prepared forgiveness” of students, I felt a bit sad. I totally agree with her, but it reminded me of how little I felt that prepared forgiveness from teachers in my lifetime. I tend to be really scared of doing assignments wrong, or getting things in late, or being a bad student. In fact, I’ve been freaking out and worrying about being a bad student a LOT recently. This is because I often get the vibe that my teachers have no mercy for me and have high expectations, especially now that I’m in college. I feel like they expect the best from me at all times, and I can’t stop the Good Student Grind, EVER, no matter what. It’s a lot of pressure. I had never thought about prepared forgiveness before. My learning environment would’ve felt a lot safer if I knew my teachers cared about me more than my homework.

The podcast made me feel like there really are teachers out there who want to break the 19th century education model too many schools are following. Teachers who really want to learn about what works best for each of their students. Teachers who understand that each student can be passionate about presenting their work through various mediums besides essays, and allow them to show their full potential. I’ve never felt that I was welcome to be more artistic, humorous, or myself in assignments. Just…academic timed essay after academic timed essay after academic timed essay.

I would be thrilled if one day I could see education completely reformed into something more meaningful for all students. I would love to see more care and LOVE put into teaching, because teachers are raising our children after all. There was one teacher who regularly subbed for many classes at my high school who was a literal Holocaust denier. And she was very open about that fact. Why are we letting just anyone become a teacher?! I hope to see schools transform into more nurturing environments; places where we can cultivate our unique passions and talents, rather than tucking them away for every assignment.

So, I think what Stephanie Renee described in the podcast is what being a student should feel like. We should feel like we have permission to be ourselves, create what we’re good at creating, and learn in our own way. We should feel like our teachers care about our identity and what we have to say. I hope that one day, more students will feel loved like this, and that teachers will stop calling me Angela.