“You Have to Show Up” An English Teacher’s Philosophy

A parent said, “Well you know what I want you to do. You throw him out there on that porch”, and I’m like excuse me ma’am?” replied Emily Herndon.   

Emily Herndon is an English teacher at Buford High School. The passionate, hardworking teacher talks about her journey and the struggles from her first year to now. She speaks of her tremendous growth, not only based on the knowledge she’s obtained throughout her years of experience, but the development of her past and current obstacles.

She was a typical college student figuring out what she wants to become with the help of her youth minister. “My youth minister asked me during my first year of college if I would come back and help teach a middle school Sunday School class,” Herndon said. “The interaction and the engagement kind of led me to start thinking that education needed to be my major.” Herndon majored in History and English with a minor in middle level education and graduated from Winthrop University. She later added on certification to teach high school English.

As a first year educator, Herndon found herself navigating her school at Indian Land Middle School. “That experience was like a sink or swim kind of experience, because I was in a mobile by myself, and there was no one there to help me.” This struggle later led to difficult situations she had to overcome. 

In particular Herndon had a student who was a disruption to the class. During a parent conference, the mom addressed the concerns about her class clown student. “Make him sit out there and when he thinks that he can behave he can come back into the class.” Herndon shockingly stated. “Legally I didn’t know if I was allowed to do this. I was a first-year teacher.” 

Herndon shares her present day struggles. “I think the biggest challenge right now is just teenagers and the pressures of today. This is only a short period of time.” Talking about her students and challenges she watches them go through. “This is just a chapter of their life being in high school that there is more to life beyond High School.” 

Eighteen years teaching, two schools, several principals, and too many students to count, Herndon shares one thing from her experience. “You have to show up, you have to do the work.” Her little piece of advice is something she encourages her students to embrace not only for their academic career but also for a successful future. She tells her students, “We must be productive members of society.”