March 21 2024-In this personal reflection, the author shares their commitment to staying dedicated to their teaching role, despite facing difficulties both inside and outside the classroom. They express disdain towards colleagues who left their teaching positions midway through the year, feeling that such actions neglected the impact on students. However, after six years of teaching, the author found themselves in the unexpected position of packing up their own classroom in December.
The author reflects on their initial belief that they were resilient, attributing it to their Latinx identity and past traumas which served as motivation to persevere. Nevertheless, they come to realize that even with their resilience, they were not immune to the “invisible tax” – referring to the unseen burdens placed on individuals due to factors such as race, ethnicity, and gender. This realization prompts the author to acknowledge the challenges they faced, both seen and unseen, and to recognize the impact it had on their passion for teaching.
