One day, during a quiet afternoon in my classroom, a comment from one of my colleagues lingered in the air: “Just remember your why.” They said the comment with a smile and an exaggerated shrug, rolling their eyes almost involuntarily. I perceived it as sarcasm, not encouragement, and I couldn't help but agree with that sentiment.
Early in my career, I found comfort in those words. At the time, remember your why It felt like a genuine invitation to reconnect with the passion that first brought me to teaching; This made it easier to hold on to purpose and find meaning in day-to-day connections and small victories. However, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, that meaning has changed.
For many teachers, the past four years have been a relentless cycle of adapting to new learning models, navigating new curricular mandates, supporting student mental health, and adapting to stricter accountability measures. Amid growing demands and insufficient support, remembering why often seems like a way to shift the responsibility for systemic failures onto teachers. Burnout and disillusionment are often presented as personal challenges that need to be overcome by rekindling passion, rather than symptoms of structural problems that need to be addressed. Instead of providing meaningful encouragement, the phrase now rings hollow, as unwavering dedication from teachers is expected while the emotional toll we face is ignored.
In the post-pandemic era, marked by ongoing social and political crises, this pressure is felt even stronger. Teachers are asked to be more than educators: to serve as counselors, advocates, and role models, while dealing with the same pain and trauma as their students. After my conversation with my colleagues, I realized that we had all come to the same conclusion: “Remember your why” has become a dismissive cliché, oversimplifying the complexities of our profession. What was once an inspiring call to action now underscores a growing detachment from the realities of teaching.
At that time I had also lost both of my grandmothers. These losses changed my understanding of purpose, inviting me to reflect on what was, what is, and what could be to honor the past and new paths toward the future. The loss of my grandmothers, Grace and Fernanda, reminded me that purpose is not always easily defined. Sometimes it is silent and deeply rooted in the values and relationships that shape us. When I am asked to “remember my why,” I now feel compelled to redefine it, not as a rigid expectation to sustain my morals, but as a deeply personal reflection of the lived experiences and values of those I hold dear.
grace and fernanda
Fernanda, born in Faial, a small island in the Azores archipelagoHe emigrated to the United States in the 1970s with his family. As an English major in southern New England, she overcame linguistic and cultural barriers to build a life that nourished her family and sustained her Portuguese heritage. Her ability to embrace a new country while honoring her roots shaped not only her life but the lives of those around her.
During the holidays, she would prepare more food than we could ever eat. dry talka traditional Portuguese bread, which always accompanies every meal, andorange cakea Portuguese orange cake that I could never resist. These flavors and smells are etched in my memory, a reminder of their dedication to keeping traditions alive and passing them on to the next generation. Fernanda's kitchen and dining room were a warm place, not only because of the meals she prepared but because of the way she welcomed everyone with open arms, making sure no one felt like a stranger.
Your resilience in preserving your identity in the midst of adversity taught me that purpose can be as simple (and as profound) as refusing to give up when others might. It was through the quiet moments of his life, through acts of service and care for others, that I learned the power of perseverance. Fernanda's life reminded me that purpose does not have to be public to be meaningful; Sometimes, it's in the small, everyday decisions to be present for your family, your community, and yourself that a real impact is made.
Grace, on the other hand, defied social expectations by pursuing her career while raising four children in the 1960s. As a union leader and teacher's aide in public schools, I will always remember the stories of her drive and determination to fight for what she wanted. was right and connecting with everyone he encountered, whether they were colleagues, students or parents. His work was not just a job but a mission, and his unwavering conviction that education should be equitable for all. Grace's purpose extended beyond her career and was deeply rooted in her family and community.
She taught me that purpose can be found not only in formal achievements but also in the quiet, everyday moments: in the care taken to make someone feel supported, in the perseverance to fight for what is right even when it seems impossible. and in courage. to challenge the status quo. Grace took on many leadership roles and her boldness showed me that purpose can mean charting your own course, based on strength and compassion.
Together, their legacies have shaped my teaching practice. Fernanda's determination to stay grounded in her identity and Grace's drive to reimagine what is possible and remind me to question systems and, when necessary, challenge them. I have learned that the purpose is to honor the complexities of our experiences and create space for healing and growth.
Remembering your purpose
In moments of doubt, I turn to the example my grandmothers gave me. Their stories center me and remind me to hold on to my values and lead with quiet strength. I have learned that my purpose does not need to be loud; You can be the quiet, nurturing force that helps others grow and succeed, just as I strive to do with my students and colleagues.
Asking teachers to remember their why must take into account the realities of current teaching. It is not enough to ask educators to reflect; Managers and policymakers must engage in their own parallel reflection and demonstrate a commitment to action. True leadership involves not only encouraging teachers to reconnect with their purpose, but also ensuring that they are seen, heard and supported. When calls to purpose are combined with practical support, remembering your why can regain its power as a shared and transformative affirmation of our collective dedication to education.
Purpose, as my grandmothers taught me, is not static. It is a living and evolving force, rooted in hope, shaped by determination and fueled by the legacy of those before us. By remembering this, we can honor the challenges and beauty of teaching, creating spaces for meaningful change within ourselves and the communities we serve.
