Teachers guide us every day, but we don’t often stop to learn about the experiences that shaped them into who they are. I interviewed Mrs. Laura Willhelm, who teaches Journalism and English at Bel Air High School. In this conversation, she reflects on her path to teaching, the challenges of the profession, and what makes a school year truly meaningful.
Q. What inspired you to be a teacher? Did you always want to be a teacher?
A. So, I did not always want to be a teacher but I think it was because I came from a family of teachers my grandma was a teacher, my mom was a teacher, My great Aunt was a teacher a bunch of people from my mom and dad’s sides were teachers so when I was in high school I was rebelling “I’m definitely not going to be a teacher!”
Then when I went to college and I got my degrees, after I finished college, I was like, “What am I going to do now?” I decided that I would like to get my degree in teaching. Mostly, what motivates me now is that I feel like being a teacher is an important public service and it helps people and it helps our community and our world by growing mature and independent thinkers.
Q. What did you want to be before becoming a teacher
A. Like every middle schooler for a long time, I wanted to be a marine biologist that was my thing and then I got to high school took biology in 10th grade and we dissected a shark and I was like “I can’t be a marine biologist anymore” that was too much for me so my dreams shifted a little bit there.
I’ve always really loved reading, and when I went to college I double-majored in English and Philosophy, which was really cool. For a while I thought I was going to be a lawyer and do law school “Legally Blonde” like inspired generation but at the time there was a lot going on in my life, and I decided it was going to be too much for me. So, I picked another profession that’s Noble and where I can use my degrees. That’s why another reason why I went the teaching route.
Q. What would you consider a successful year– not just for the students, but for you as well?
A. I think learning should be fun so I try to do what I can to make learning fun when I can, I want students to leave my class happy and excited, like class went by fast and they got to do something cool.
Another successful year is to see students grow. Everybody shows up with different strengths and at different places. so, I always tell my students “I just want to see you grow” it doesn’t matter what other people are doing this is all about you so success for me would be to see them grow.
I kind of measure myself a little bit that way even though sometimes like you can’t always measure yourself on other people’s choices but as a teacher I like to try to adapt the way I motivate students based off what they need. Usually, by the end of the year, it works out.
Q. What are the difficulties of teaching, and how do you get through them?
A. So, if anyone is considering becoming a teacher, I definitely think it’s a great job in addition to a profession. The difficulties I always tell people “I’m not a morning person either” so as a high school teacher it’s tough being here at 7. How do I get through it? I set a lot of alarms; I do my positive jam out song on the way to school to pump myself up.
I’m a big believer in positive self-talk — saying positive things, positive mindset. And then a lot of teachers have a burnout issue because it’s so much work and so hard. It’s a difficult job, just like nurses and first responders. So, surrounding yourself with positive people as much as you can, being friendly with people you work, finding like the fun in work– that’s what keeps me motivated for sure. For me, that’s the hard part.
Speaking with Willhelm revealed the passion, humor, and resilience beyond her work as a teacher. Her journey shows how meaningful teaching can be. Her commitment to helping students grow not just academically, but as independent thinkers. Highlighting the impacts that teachers have beyond the classroom.