This week I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with many educators on fire to try new things in their classroom, with their staff or in their department. The energy within USD 497 is incredible! Invigorating is an understatement. Of course, as you might imagine, I’m right in the middle of this blaze of excitement. However, as we all know, when dreams are being voiced and acted upon, there will always be the naysayer sending out comments of doubt to squash dreams and level the playing field. Misery loves company, right? I like to call them dream-squashers. These are the people who seek to throw a wet blanket on your enthusiasm, or they might mask their attempts to hold you back as an effort to help them reach THEIR dreams. Dream-squashers often ask, “Why would you dare try that creative opportunity in your classroom, school, department? That is going to be so messy and disorganized.” To that, I say, “Why not?”
“Why not?” I love that question in response to the “whys” thrown my way.
Let’s allow every negative comment to be like pouring gasoline on our desire to innovate and try something new. The more the naysayers shout doubt, the larger our fire of determination will grow. Let’s prove them wrong by executing our desires and breaking the mold.
Are you in? Watch out World! We might create a wildfire that cannot be contained! In fact, I believe Dave Burgess refers to this quote in Teach Like a Pirate,
“Light yourself on fire with passion and people will come for miles to watch you burn.”
–John Wesley
REAL Life Experience
I remember an assignment in first grade. We had to create a presentation of what we wanted to be when we grew up and share it with the class. Most of you might not know this, but as an end of the year first-grader, I still couldn’t read. My teacher made me aware of it daily, and she didn’t “let me down” during this presentation either. Mrs. X wasn’t the nicest person on the planet. I’ll never forget her; she often called out my differences and inadequacies in class. However, I learned a lot from her actions.
As my classmates stood in front of the room and shared their dreams with the class, I couldn’t wait for my turn. This project was perfect for me because you could draw a picture and share it verbally, no written words or reading was required. Therefore, I felt confident about the task. “Tara, it’s your turn.” I stood in front of the class, passionate about sharing my ambitions. I remember this as if it happened yesterday. I held up the hand drawn picture of me in a lab coat, on lined notebook paper, neatly colored in the lines with crayons and said, “This is me. I want to be a doctor when I grow up. I want to help sick people and most of all I want to go to college.” I was smiling to the ears at the thought of being the first in my family ever to achieve a higher education and overcome the obstacles life presented me as a child. I looked at my teacher with pride, and before I sat down, she said, “If you want to be a doctor and go to college, you better learn to read, Tara! You won’t be much of anything if you can’t read.” Dream Squasher? Mrs. X? Possibly. However, there was so much truth in what she said, and surprisingly, I didn’t tuck my head and cry. I just sat down and thought, “How in the world am I going to learn to read? I’ve got to be able to read!”
I tried so hard that year and never accomplished the goal, but that all changed in second grade. My teacher, Mrs. S, saw potential in me. She asked each of her students at the beginning of the year, “What are your goals for 2nd Grade?” I told her, “I want to be able to read. I want to be a doctor and go to college, and Mrs. X said I’d never get to if I can’t read. I tried as hard as I could last year, but never learned.” Mrs. S assured me I’d become a reader that year, and with her unfailing support, I did! In fact, I grew two full years of achievement in the area of reading and comprehension and never struggled in school since that year. Moral of the story?
1.) Mrs. S is my HERO!
2.) Children remember the words you share with them, even over thirty years later.
3.) Most importantly, Mrs. X’s words didn’t discourage me; they intensified my desire to learn.
Even though my professional desire changed over the years, at that time, my eyes remained fixed on my dream. I was laser focused. As a little girl, I knew if I were to overcome my childhood life-experiences, I had to allow statements like that to stoke my enthusiastic fire. If a seven-year-old can use harsh comments to ignite their passion, why not the rest of us?
I love this image from the 2016 Olympics in Rio. It fits perfectly!
Winners focus on their goal. Others focus on winners.
Let’s overcome the ridicule that tries to squeeze the life out of our ambitions, and use it as motivation to prove our purpose. YOU are a WINNER! Stay focused on your goals and on improving education for our students!
Let the dream-squashers fuel a blazing wildfire of enthusiasm and innovation in ALL of us!
“Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.”
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
