Beyond the Classroom Trainee teachers have a lot to focus on and plan for their future. How to manage a classroom, meet the curriculum, and accurately assess students are all enormous responsibilities. Experienced teachers have a decisive advantage in these categories. However, one area of ​​the high school environment that developing teachers may be able to relate to more strongly is the life of an adolescent. Just a few years ago today's future teachers were just the students themselves. It's important to remember that high school is only partly about classroom teaching. A vitally important part of a good high school is its extracurricular environment. Good teachers have the ability to both skillfully teach their content area and relate to their students. A great way to get to know students better, and for students to learn more from each other, is through a school's clubs, sports, and extracurricular academic activities. I don't remember much about my first two years of high school. I went to class, did some decent work, came home and spent some time on homework before spending time with my family and going to bed. I felt strangely disconnected from school. I had a few friends that I visited from time to time after school, but living far from high school often prevented that. I looked at school almost like a job, doing the minimum, just enough to please the teachers, and moving on. It wasn't until my freshman year of high school that I learned to truly develop in school. Part of this sudden realization stems from my success as a tennis player and my decision to join several other school clubs. During that time I made closer friends and saw teachers staying after school to run around and even participate in activities in a different way. It's no coincidence that my grades improved at the same rate as my social life. The teacher's involvement in Peer Counseling really impressed me. Teachers will share personal experiences and participate in group activities. I now realize the effect that after-school events had on my personal growth. This is one of the reasons why I believe it is essential for a good teacher to participate in something outside of the normal school day. Coaches can have an even greater impact on students in this capacity than they have as teachers..