Yesterday we said goodbye to my wife’s parents after a wonderful weekend showing them around Milwaukee, eating great food, and catching up. As soon as they were out the door my wife started digging through the two suitcases of memories that they brought her from storage. There were old dolls, her baby blanket, and lots of old notes, projects and assignments from her school years. While watching and listening to her sort through all of those artifacts it struck me at how many memories she had of specific projects, teachers, and classes going all the way back to elementary school. She made positive comments about numerous teachers, laughed as she remembered the fun times with classmates, and continuously reflected on how much she enjoyed school. It was a great reminder of the impact we are having on our students every single day!
In education we don’t always get to see the payoff. Sometimes it takes years for the lessons to take hold and for students to really see their learning. 20 some years from now there will probably be a former student of yours laughing and smiling as they look back on their time in your class. Not only is the work you do helping our students learn important skills and academic lessons for their future but you’re also creating a love of learning and fostering a sense of curiosity that will drive them for the rest of their life!
Every day you are giving your students a gift that they may not be able to appreciate just yet, but you give it nonetheless. You are all champions for your students, each and every day you work hard to ensure that your students have every opportunity to be successful. You make a difference in your students’ lives. It is inspiring to see all that you do for them!!
If you have just eight minutes to be inspired today please watch this Ted Talk by Rita Pierson. You may have seen it, over 10 million people have, but it’s worth watching again (I think I’ve seen it at least 10 times myself). She is inspirational beyond words and may just give you the boost you need on a Monday morning 🙂
Pushing Forward 