and my role is what again?

Teacher...
dictionary response: teacher- [tee-cher] –noun
a person who teaches or instructs, esp. as a profession; instructor.

thesaurus: synonyms: abecedary, adviser, assistant, coach, disciplinarian, educator, faculty member, guide, instructor, lecturer, mentor, pedagogue, preceptor, professor, pundit, scholar, schoolteacher, supervisor, teach*, trainer, tutor

Hmm...how can such a simple definition have so many hats?
And, they forgot- nurturer, advocate, leader, etc...you get the point.

I had a student in my class, who usually is way on top of things, start getting really distracted. She wasn't being disruptive, but my teacher instincts told me something was wrong. I pulled in her in the hallway to talk to her. She started balling. She continued to tell me that her aunt and 16 year old cousin had been shot the night before at a barbecue.
really?
so I hold her in my arms and let her cry. I, of course, can't hold back my tears either.
It's a crazy story that I don't have to get into, but this just shows a fragment of a fraction of what my kids go through.
A few weeks ago I had a student out for a week because his older brother overdosed.
I've shared my peanut butter and jelly sandwich a few times with a kid who is hungry, and his mom breaks her promise of bringing him lunch. (and there's nothing at home)
There's the kid who has bruises on his arm...and they're not from football practice.

I'm supposed to teach them certain standards when they come into my class.
I teach.
The thing is, to teach I have to pray, laugh, yell, cry, and fight to get through it all.
They don't have a reason to trust me. Most of them don't and won't trust me, but some are starting to show that hope that they can.
They treat me like crap sometimes and talk to me with more disrespect than I thought possible.
But, I get the days where I get hugs (even in 7th grade). I get the comments from students that keep me here. I get the smiles, and when it's a good day- We get the grades that show learning is happening.
teaching is hard.
it's draining.
but i loke it.