Jokūbas admits that his young age helps him connect with students – the relatively small age difference and the same digital environment in which today’s teenagers live. However, in his opinion, the most important thing remains not technology, but the ability to be a person who not only teaches but also listens, understands, and creates a safe environment for growth.
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Influence can be exerted not only in the classroom but also beyond it
J. Širvinskas, a pedagogy student at VDU Education Academy’s professional studies, has been working at a school for about five years, albeit with some breaks. At one point, he went abroad to study, decided to step away from pedagogy, but eventually returned to the school. Today he says he has realized that this is exactly where he wants to be and work.
According to the speaker, the biggest motivation for this job is not just imparting knowledge but the opportunity to contribute to the growth and development of young people. “It is important to me not only to teach the subject. A teacher can contribute to shaping attitudes, values, and self-confidence. That influence can be exerted not only in the classroom but also beyond it,” he says.
According to him, building a connection with students today is helped not only by lessons. It is important to understand what young people live by, what interests them, how they live, and in what environment they spend their time.
“I believe that my young age, since I myself graduated from school relatively recently, definitely has an impact. I am closer to students in age than many of my colleagues, so naturally, I share more interests and common topics with the younger generation. When I go to events, various concerts, I also meet my students there. That commonality of interests helps to establish mutual connection more easily,” says J. Širvinskas.
Students are not used to seeing what the teacher does after lessons
Stronger bonds between him and the students are created by social networks. Before starting to work at the school, Jokūbas already had experience creating content for various brands and influencers, so the social media environment was not unfamiliar to him. While working at the school, he noticed that students get most of their information from “TikTok,” so he decided to try this platform himself.
“Students talked a lot about ‘TikTok.’ I realized that they not only entertain themselves there but also learn many new things. I thought maybe it’s worth it for a teacher to be there too,” he recalls.
Jokūbas’s first videos attracted great interest, and over time social networks became a place where the teacher shares not only school daily life but also moments from his personal life – travels, sports, bike trips, or other leisure activities.
“Students are not used to seeing what the teacher does after lessons. They usually only know that person in the classroom. And when you share something from your life, common topics arise. For example, after a bike trip, students asked how it went on that route, saying they would like to try it themselves. In such situations, conversations naturally start.”
According to him, social networks today can become not only a platform for entertainment but also a means to show the teaching profession from another side – more human, closer to a young person.
“There are not many teachers who share the teacher’s daily life not only in the classroom but also beyond the school. When I started receiving messages from schoolchildren or students considering pedagogy, I realized there is meaning in it. If it encourages even one person to think about the teaching path, then it is worth it,” he is convinced.
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According to J. Širvinskas, the most important thing at school is creating a safe environment. He recalls one of his first experiences when he unexpectedly had to substitute for an English teacher.
“Students then said they were afraid of English lessons. My goal was not to teach all English grammar or vocabulary in a few months but to make them simply not afraid to come to those lessons. Later, some said they learned more in those four months than in four years. I think a lot depends not only on methods but also on the atmosphere and the relationship with the person,” says the speaker.
The school’s microclimate is equally important
Jokūbas describes himself as an empathetic and positive teacher who values a sense of humor and the ability to sometimes show serious things in a more fun and simple way.
“It is very important for students to feel that the teacher is empathetic, understanding, and human. I am not afraid to share my experiences and talk about difficulties or failures. I think it helps build trust,” he says.
Speaking about today’s challenges in education, J. Širvinskas admits that one of the biggest problems is the turnover of young teachers. Many of them, after coming to work at school and facing various difficulties, leave the school after a few years. According to Jokūbas, for a young person to want to stay working at school, not only salary is important – the school’s microclimate is equally important.
“It is very important for a young teacher to feel accepted. I have heard stories from some colleagues that older generation teachers put pressure on the younger generation and look skeptically at young specialists. In my opinion, the school should be a place where a young teacher can grow, try, make mistakes, and feel supported,” J. Širvinskas is convinced.
Currently, Jokūbas is studying pedagogy at VDU Education Academy’s professional studies and says that the university provides him not only with theoretical knowledge but also a very important sense of community.
“The greatest value is sharing experiences. When you realize you are not the only one facing challenges, you gain more self-confidence. Sometimes just a bad first experience can discourage a person from working at school, but it is very important not to give up too quickly,” he says.
Although his work as a teacher also has its challenges, today J. Širvinskas says he feels he is exactly where he should be. “Now I definitely know that I want to work here and stay for a long time,” he smiles.
