What I Learned Today #6 - It's not just you that you effect!

Speaking to my students the other day (my NEW students who I'm very excited to work with) an understanding came out that is really starting to resonate with me. It's something that I've said to students before, but I'm just now beginning to comprehend its full meaning. I often point out to students that what they do reflects on others, not just on themselves. Often, kids think that when they make certain choices (good or bad) that those choices only have effects on a personal level. However, the truth is that many more people are effected by every decision we make.

When we make choices (especially the bad ones), people around us begin to ask themselves questions. Who does this guy think he is? What's wrong with her? Didn't their parents teach them better than this? Who would want to be friends with them?

These questions have huge implications; what we do reflects on everyone who is a part of our lives. Our decisions make people challenge how well we were raised, how much they can trust us in the future, and to what extent they can befriend anyone who sides with us. I used to think of this only with respect to my students, but I realize that it's true for me and for every other educator. What we do, what we choose to say in a given situation, gives others the chance to make judgments about us.

I'll be sure (and I'll encourage my students to as well) that my choices and decisions are reflecting on me and my life the way that I want them to; after all, what I do effects more people than just me.

First Day of School Poem

I wrote this poem to introduce my classroom to my students.

Now

This…
This is the NOW.
Not the then, not the soon, not the past or the future,
not the could have been or the might still be
This is the NOW.

Who you are right NOW is the reason I am here.

I’m not here to talk about
what you did
how you ranked
who you don’t like
why you don’t care
That’s not why I’m here.

I’m not in the position to decide
who you’ll be
what you’ll become
where your path leads
why you will succeed
That’s not why I’m here.

I’m here for the NOW.

“OK, so…what do we do NOW?” You ask. “What is this all about?”

Well…this is not about YOU
but it’s not about ME either.
This is about US.

It’s about respect; it’s about community; it’s about caring for each other;
It’s about … oh – blah, blah, blah, blah!

You’ve heard this all before!
NOW, we’re gonna own it.

This is about moving forward
not backward, not backsliding, not backpedaling,
not back anything!

This is where we’re
responsible for our actions
AND
accountable for our choices

This is where things make sense;
where nonsense is not welcome.

This is about creating a place that has
what we need
what we want
and what we hope for

THIS IS THE NOW.

So,
let’s do this
let’s be this
let’s become this
Because no one else is gonna do this for us.

This is ME. This is YOU. But…this is really US.

And it’s time to get started.

just…

about…

NOW.