“Middle school students are certain that no one has ever thought the thoughts they are thinking or felt the feelings they are feeling.” (Brown & Knowles, 2007, p. 35)

The many reasons for why not to be a middle school teacher is supported by scientific research which also confirmed what I already know about the “special stage” of adolescence. What I took away from this information was to stay conscious of what this period of time means to students and what it meant to me. I believe it’s true that students don’t talk about the mental or physical changes we go through because we don’t understand it or we don’t even know it’s happening. These changes can affect how a young teenager is as a student and how they process information.

I know I’ve viewed students being able to open up to me as a success, because it is, as an educator, but now I wonder if students would even bring up health questions. I never thought it would be a possibility, I thought maybe friend, relationship, or family drama would be something I’d be confided in, and I wouldn’t oppose to give advice on those issues but guiding through or answering health topics is a whole different story. I understand that the article suggests that teachers are like guidance counselors, I can say that’s pretty accurate, but expecting or adding on to our workload being prepared to answer health questions is something that if I had to do I’d want to be heavily versed on what to say and trained on how to approach those sensitive questions. Again, it sounds like another workload to me, but for now, if I were ever approached with such questions I’d say: “I’ll get back to you on that.”