On a hot day in July, 1997, I headed down to Livingston, California, where I had an interview for a teaching position. As I walked toward the district office, where the interview was to take place, another candidate for the job joined me. He asked, "Are you here for an interview?" I replied that yes, I was, and then he said, "Are ya nervous?" I shrugged and told him that no, I wasn't nervous. (I had discovered a long time ago that nervousness doesn't do me any good). The man went to the bathroom, or somewhere, I didn't know where, and then I was called in for my interview. To my surprise, I walked in to a panel of interviewers, and this man was among them. I had just assumed he was another candidate for the job, but here he was, sitting on the other side of the table with the rest of the interviewers.
I don't recall much about the interview...except that I was surprised that, since it was an interview for a bilingual job, they only asked me one question in Spanish. I was secretly hoping they'd decide I wasn't fluent enough and give me an English only class. But with only one simple question, it was hard to stumble over words, and they somehow decided I was perfectly qualified to teach bilingual. (Actually, it ended up being a primary language class, where most of the instruction was done in Spanish, but English was one of the subjects taught. It was the best strategy in the world, and the best experience of my professional life). Anyway, I was called back for a second interview, and hired for the position. While I was relieved to have a job, I was terrified to be a first time teacher of bilingual education.
A few months later I found out that Al Silviera (the man who asked me if I was nervous) was a neighbor to Roger Liston, my former high school seminary teacher. Brother Liston told me that Al said he knew he wanted to hire me the minute I said I wasn't nervous. After that, in his opinion, the interview was just a formality. (Boy, was I glad I answered that question right)!
I like to tell that story sometimes when I can tell someone is having a tough time dealing with being nervous. Just remember, no matter who it is who is looking or passing their judgment on your performance, they are just people, like you and me. They may hold your future in their hands, but don't let it scare you. If you master your nerves, you will perform better and give a truer representation of yourself and your abilities.
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