Lights, critics and Golden Buzzers. English teacher Beth Blankenship had been an America’s Got Talent (AGT) enthusiast for years, one of millions AGT-watchers each summer. But in 2023, after a few students challenged her to audition, she decided to take her involvement to the next level.
To try out, Blankenship created an account and then submitted two videos: one introducing herself and another showcasing her talent. But what talent did she audition with? This is the question Blankenship poses to her students each year on the first day of school…and doesn’t answer until the very last. Few come close to guessing correctly.
“My talent is teaching,” Blankenship said.
This surprising response has left students wondering whether teaching qualifies as a talent and how it could be performed on a show. Blankenship clarified that, while appreciated, simply being nice to students is very different from having an impressive talent of teaching others—one that she developed over her career.
“Teaching is a craft,” Blankenship said. “And only until you do it for years do you truly master it.”
However, the ability to display such talent did pose a challenge. As a teacher, Blankenship perfected her talent in front of her classes every day at school. Because this is an audience of real people, she is used to teaching live subjects. If she had made it to the real stage, her plan was to teach to the live audience, but she couldn’t use students in her audition video because they’d all have to sign a form. So she decided to film herself without students doing a Harvard Project Zero thinking routine called Zoom In.
Project Zero thinking routines are created by Harvard education researchers and are meant to deepen students’ thinking. Zoom In is a short activity where students are shown a small cut of an image and then predict what it is. The teacher slowly reveals more and more, until the entire picture is unveiled.
One of her motivations for entering such a unique talent was to do something never done before. But the main reason she chose teaching is her strong belief in the importance of highlighting skills that don’t usually get the applause they deserve.
“Teachers need to be raised up.” Blankenship said. “Especially with all the crap going around about schools…we need to make them feel like what they do is meaningful and that they have real talent.”
After sending in her video, AGT responded asking for another tape, but Blankenship was too busy with actual teaching and never submitted one. Nevertheless, Blankenship still hopes to try out again in the coming years—this time teaching former students who are over 18.
“I think I know what to do better now,” Blankenship said. “My dream was to make it on stage. The dream isn’t dead.”
Blankenship encourages everyone to reflect on what they’re good at, rather it’s a traditional talent like singing or a unique one like speed reading.
“I think everybody should consider what their talent is; everyone has one, and it will change throughout your life,” Blankenship said. “Whatever your talent is, put your own spin on it. You should be proud of that.”
