Lessons Learned

I guess this whole semester is about teaching us the ins and outs of education.  By placing us in the field for a semester, we get a first hand experience of the challenges faced everyday by teachers in the schools.  With that being said, there have been a few valuable lessons I have learned so far that I would like to share in hope that they might translate to be effective in your workplace or college career.

1.  Be on time.  This is the first thing I always try to do.  How can you be effective if you are not present?  How can you make an impact if you are the shining example of tardy?  If you show up on time on a consistent basis, it not only sets an example, but it gives you a chance to be prepared.  If you are not on time, you better be early.  I find this is when you do the most good for yourself.  Administrators take notice that you are the first to get there and maybe the last to leave.  Colleagues want to step up their game when they see you on top of yours.  In essence, always follow the old saying, "If you're on time, you're late.  If you're five minutes early,  you're on time."  I found this to be true in almost every facet of my life. 

2. Listen.  My whole life I have always been the center of attention.  When I talk, people listen.  I don't mean to sound cocky but that is how it has always been.  Cracking a joke, telling a story, starting a conversation, it all was so characteristic of myself.  Once I entered the classroom, I learned that listening to the students, who are at the center of education and what everything revolves around, can help you reach them.  I am not talking about just listening to what they have to say, but rather listen for the signals that flag you and tell you something is wrong so you can help them with whatever larger problem they might have on their mind.  Listen so that you can make a difference.

3. Positive Attitude.  This is the most important.  If you find yourself going into a situation that is dreadful, you most likely are not going to give it everything you have.  I will tell you the perfect example.  Look at my time in Moss Point.  Had I gone in there with a negative attitude, I wouldn't have made the difference that I did in several children's lives.  Putting forward a positive attitude radiates success.  Be annoying.  Be the one that comes in every morning that is excited to be there.  Energy is contagious.

4. Finish Strong.  When you do these things and come to the end of your road, as I am fast approaching the end of the semester, it is important to finish strong.  Do not phase out.  Do not slack off.  Keep giving it 110% and you will see better results.  The minute you slack off is the minute you come to terms with being less than your best.  And when you do finish, do something that lets you release all that you have accomplished.  Sometimes I let out a large victory yell, especially when finishing papers or lesson plans.  "WHOOOOO!" I guess that is the showboat coming out in me. Let something out that will make others think that you just conquered the world. Be proud.  Whatever you do, be a closer.  Be a finisher.  Be the man with the sign on his desk that says, "The buck stops here."

These are all lessons I have learned this semester.  While they are not very exact and lean more toward concepts that individual tasks, I feel like they will help you complete those tasks in a more efficient manner.  They will help you be the person that is successful that everyone looks at and says, "I want to be as passionate about my job as that guy."  Be the example. 

Paths

I'm not a firm believer in predestination, but rather I believe we choose to take certain paths.  Have you ever seen that financial service commercial with the green path that leads the person to their next step to financial security?  It is similar to that in that we follow things that are immediately in front of us, such as small decisions, in order to be stable in the bigger parts of our life.  By bigger, I mean things like finances, jobs, friendships, relationships,  and emotional well being.  While I feel that our paths are similar to the ones in the commercial, I also feel they differ in a few ways.
First, they never show anyone else's path.  Look at the people around you.  They are all following their own green path. Aren't we lucky to cross paths with each and every person in our lives?  From my students to family to friends to past girlfriends, I want to think that there is some reason all of our paths crossed.  Some purpose behind that.  Truth is, I don't believe that and probably never will.  All we can do is take from those intersections experiences where we have learned to love, learned to trust, learned to laugh, learned to hurt, and learned to heal a sense of accomplishment knowing that we have become a better person in the whole scheme of things.
Second,  it is predestined.  I believe our paths can take us anywhere in the blink of an eye.  Some of you that have probably seen Donnie Darko would understand this blog a little bit more than most.  While our paths are busy paving the way for us to catch up with them, we are experiencing everything life has to offer.  For me right now, that happens to be teaching.  For you, you could find yourself in a big city with a great job.  For some it could be just taking whatever is thrown your way.  Things change from day to day, and I firmly believe it has to do with the paths that we choose to take.
One thing is certain about paths.  There is always a way to turn back.  Sure, you can always live in the past, stick with what you know is safe, but in the end, does it really help you?  I often get pulled into the depths of nostalgia, finding myself thinking of better times where I felt more comfortable or more loved, but in the end that has been my problem.  I've been so stuck in the past I haven't taken the chances to move forward.  All that has changed now.  I'm not looking back anymore.
I guess what all this rambling amounts to is that I believe three things:

• We all choose our own paths.
• Those paths cross with others and when that happens, the learning and growing that can occur is endless.
• Each path allows you to stay where you are with what is familiar.  Don't be a sucker for living with the past. 

With this in mind, where is your path going?   Who has your path brought into your life?  And do you reminisce? Maybe too much? I know I do.  But here is to moving forward.  Here is to blazing that new trail.  Here is to making new paths. Here is to growing. 

5 Tips for an Easy Mind

So as I was sitting in my bed cramming a Little Debbie in my mouth, I thought for a second, "Life is good."  This comes as a surprise for me though.  I have a lot of reasons to be negative right about now, but for some reason, things are looking up.
What makes it this way?  Maybe I just have "senioritis" and I am fine with just getting by for this last little bit of student teaching.  My unit started this week. I have a job interview on Thursday and for some reason I just feel "easy."  I am not worried, nor am I nervous.  I just feel really peaceful.  This makes me concerned deep down because I feel like this is when most people lose it.  They lose that fire for doing what they love to do.  All I have on my mind is getting inside of a classroom and changing the lives of my students.  While I should be wound up and stressed, I do feel that I have mastered some tips for being easy going, so I will share them with you.

1. Sing. A lot.  Every day on the way to school I sing as loud as I can to the songs that come on the radio.  If someone else was in the car, they would be sure to jump out.  Whether it is country, some crazy beats by Dre, or some easy listening on the Zew, let it out, man. You are your own audience. Don't be afraid to take a stage dive.

2. Appreciate the small things.  Whether it is someone who smiled at you in passing or finding a penny on the ground, consider it a good day.  You've won the smallest battles of the day, and it only gets better from there. It takes legos to build and awesome castle, so use those small things to create something larger and more positive. 

3.  Call a friend.  Don't text them.  CALL them.  It is slightly more personable and it gives a chance for real conversion without hiding behind the confines of words on a screen.  The voice can show the most affection for someone, so be sure not to abuse that with sarcasm or doubt.  I know there are two people I talk to on the phone just about everyday and they are two of my closest friends.  I love their conversations the most. 

4.  Eat Little Debbies.  I am not telling you to eat little people named Debbie, but however find your favorite, a zebra cake, fudge round, star crunch, or swiss roll and eat the ever living icing out of it.  Sometimes the best comfort comes from these small little pieces of heaven. One thing is for sure, if little Debbie ever grew up to be a beautiful woman, I would marry her for her goodies. 

5. Get sleep.  Robin Williams said one time, "Only in their dreams can men be truly free. Twas always thus and always thus will be."  That is the only true time where your mind is at ease. Go to bed at 9 every now and then.  You'll feel that much better in the morning.  Be free in your sleep.  Go places you've never been to.  Relive old memories and create visions of what you want in the future.  Own the time that belongs to you.

Sometimes I feel like I am writing a self help guide and wonder if everyone reading this just thinks I am full of what Joe Biden would say, "malarkey." I would say to them that this is sincere and I only hope to share it with you in hopes that you also will find a peace of mind, or at least crack a smile at one of the lame jokes I have made within this post.   Either way, writing this piece felt good, and I hope you do too after reading.