I didn’t know where else to write my heart out, but I forget I have this tumblr, so we’ll be writing out my thoughts here.
Preface: I have a student who I’ve known for four years already. He’s an awesome student, and I’m glad I had the opportunity to teach him this year, especially coming out of our “zoom band” year. Used to play trumpet and was willing to switch to tuba. He was on tuba for a good most of this semester and has made tremendous progress. A month ago, he informed us that his parents did not want him to continue with symphonic band and wanted him to do a different elective, but we specifically asked students to switch only if they were going to continue on with band for another year. Parents aren’t listening to their child, at least that’s what it looks like to me. Student informs us (myself and my colleague) that his parents say, “that’s our problem”. I try to get the student to reason with parents.
Cut to now: We just had a successful spring concert. Everyone performed well, and I had my heart full at the end of the concert. This same student came to us afterwards and said he needed to talk to me (and the other teacher) before he left. When we had a chance, he told us that he would not continue with symphonic band, that he would become a TA, and that “this was his decision”.
This ripped my heart out. I can’t exactly pinpoint why this makes me so emotional.
Maybe it’s because it feels infuriating when parents don’t factor in their child’s happiness when it comes to the things they do.
Maybe it’s because I don’t believe for one second that it was “his decision” to switch electives.
Maybe this is triggering some trauma from my own childhood.
All I can say is that my student is hurt, because I could see he wanted to cry as he was telling us this news.
I’m not mad at him, I never will. I think I’m mad at the situation. I can tell that’s he not going to have the same joy and happiness as a TA that he has as a band member.
I’m heartbroken, y’all. Just completely heartbroken.
