Avoid getting headaches!

The quote of the day in my Junior High Observation goes as follows: "When teaching, the most important thing to remember is to avoid getting headaches!" Mr. Walker, at Mountain Ridge Junior High, has been teaching for about 34 years and, with a twinkle in his eye and a smirk on his face, that was his advise.
Actually I learned two important, valuable lessons. The first is to trust students. No matter what grade level or age. They are smart, and want to learn, and can do things on their own. I have an internal tendency to micromanage and I am realizing more and more the importance of not offering silver platters to students, but of the need to promote inquiry based learning.
The other lesson doesn't pertain directly to the education aspect, but in regards to interactions with people in general. It is so important to respect everyone, whether they are in Junior High, High School, Freshman year in college, or Senior year in college. Every has something they can bring to the table and we all cal build each other and lift each other up.
I had a job interview a week and a half ago in which I was asked to pick a hero and explain why. I sat back for a minute and responded with "My mission president." The main reason for this choice was his main philosophy in leadership and in teaching. He always told us to get in the trenches and lift from underneath to build others up. He showed by example that you need get your hands dirty and push from under. This is a lesson that I will never forget and will always strive to emulate.