Fresh Start

Students and teachers are very lucky for many reasons... The most obvious being that we get 2 months off during summer. This is in addition to every random holiday under the sun. But outside of a sweet amount of vacation time, there is one special perk. We get the invigorating "fresh start" twice each school year. Once in the beginning, and once right now. It's a beautiful thing.

Today was many peoples' fresh start in my building. First off, let's look at why I needed a fresh start....

I was going 100 mph on an empty tank right before break. There was a day when second period rolled around and I just looked at my instructional aide, Ms. M, and said, "Oh my God.... Ms. M... I completely forgot about this class... I have nothing prepared." She just looked at me and said she would go grab the text book and we could make the best of it. Naturally, we powered through, but that was a serious wake up call to me that I needed a break... and sleep. Lots and lots of sleep.

Walking into my classes today, I was not only prepared with materials and lesson plans, but I felt mentally prepared to take on whatever came my way. When things were getting a little rowdy, I didn't emotionally shut down and feel like a failure. I was productive during my planning period, as well as after school, getting more work done today than I did in the three days before break. Not to mention I got to wear my hair down for the first time this school year. I was a wild woman today. On top of all of this, I was able to redesign my entire curriculum for the ID cluster over break, so they are going to get a better education for these last 6 months, guaranteed. #Winning.

Next, let's focus on my most truant students. I'm talking about my kids who come maybe once a month... some of them I haven't seen since October. Many of them showed up today. It was glorious. When AA walked into the classroom, I literally jumped up and down and nearly tackled him with a hug. He rolled his eyes with a "Good morning, Ms. Walker..." and sat down. I told him I was overjoyed to see him and it wasn't too late to pass for this quarter. He has a lot of make up work to do, but he can do it, and I'll happily help him. He looked at me with a smile and said,"I'm ready Ms. Walker... let's do this." He needed a fresh start.

There are many students who show up every day and get just as ragged as some of us teachers. It's hard work being a student. It's also hard work being an emotionally unstable student in a rather unstable environment. We have several of those kids, and they not only needed a break, they needed a do-over. One of my favourite ladies in my Algebra II class, AO, can get a bit testy. She's in school every day, and she comes to my class and does her best to greet me with a smile and a hug. Right before break, she was refusing to take notes, wouldn't put her music away, and frequently snapped at me uncontrollably. While this wasn't terribly out of character for her to other teachers, this was something I rarely experienced with AO. After 2 weeks off and the opportunity to start over, she was pleasant as a plum today in the hallway and in class. She greeted me with a big hug, an award winning smile, and completed all of her work while using her Ps & Qs. She needed a fresh start.

Lastly, there are those students who get cabin fever. Right before break there was a significant spike in suspensions at our school. While there are many things that can attribute to this, I mostly blame cabin fever. Everyone gets antsy, and then acts out. What better to help us forget these blips on the radar than 2 weeks off and a new set of resolutions? Several of my kiddos suffered the consequences of their cabin fever, and many of them had 3 weeks of vacation instead of just 2. Not only am I glad to see them back, but I'm glad they're getting a fresh start in 2013 after their rocky end of 2012.

These are just a few examples about the glory of the fresh start. Before the break many teachers and students were wondering how we were going to make it to June. I even wondered how I was going to make it to June.. and I LOVE my job. The December Doldrums are a scary time for many, but us educators are lucky enough to make it to the New Year and have a Second First Day of School. It looks a lot like the first day... just with a winter coat on. It looks like a hop in your step, a twinkle in your eye, and a sparkling smile. It looks like kids coming to school, teachers energized and excited, and administrators smiling. It looks like a new toy, ready to be played with.

Here's to the Fresh Start of 2013 that we all so desperately needed.

What does it mean to live?

I waste a lot of time on Facebook, especially around the holidays. I use the word waste because I usually read about a lot of things I genuinely don't care about, yet can't stop reading. The people who I care about most will tell me what is going on in their lives, so it's not their profiles that I look over when I'm on the book, which means I'm looking at peoples' profiles who I honestly don't really care about...

Anyways, while perusing profiles of people I don't really care that much for, I came across something that I enjoyed. This woman I knew in college posted a piece by George Carlin, of what he is calling a paradox. However, I felt it was more a set of contradictory thoughts, that lead us to the paradox that we should be moving forward, but we are actually standing still, if not moving backwards. Regardless, I felt it was a good bit to share.

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less; we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families; more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense; more knowledge, but less judgement; more experts, yet more problems; more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive to fast, get to angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love to seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life, not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space, but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses but broken homes. These are the days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodes, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.

Remember to spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember to say 'I love you' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! and give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

And always remember, life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by those moments that take our breath away.

Granted, the end gets a bit corny, but in general it does make you stop to think for a minute. What does it mean to live during our lifetime? What makes a full life?

I felt this was an interesting piece to come across after thinking about my resolutions, or will to be resolute, as it's important to be resolute about the right things. I looked back over my list of priorities (I prefer that to resolutions) and figure they do help me live a healthier lifestyle, but they don't all contribute to a more fulfilling life. I'm left pondering about a list that is more focused on ensuring that I live instead of change or improve. Yes, I would like to improve many things about myself, but I want to make sure that I am living a purposeful, driven life that is not only centered on myself, but others. Maybe if I come up with a list focused on living, I'll be more resolute about completing that list...