I Wish I Knew – A Poem

Someone asked me once, what
I wish I knew when I started teaching, well,

I wish I knew how
much influence the
students had on me, I

wish I knew to
really listen, so they could
reach their dreams, I

wish I knew that
buoyancy can help
their thinking grow, I

wish I knew how to
create a space that
students can call home, I

wish I knew that
teaching involved
compassion at the core, I

wish I knew these
little things, so I'd make
sure there's more.

I wish I knew the
significance of
empathetic teaching, and

the depth of
knowledge students bring when
they walk through that door, I

wish I knew the
true purpose of my role and
of my being, but mostly what

I wish I knew is
what I was really there for.