Settle with the Stars

Sometimes I write poetry....   

Settle with the Stars

 “Reach for the moon even if you miss you’ll still land among the stars.” Norman Vincent Peale

They give direction to dreary souls,

Brilliant but not always bold.

They burst but there are billions,

using the forces of gravity to come together.

Their phases never change.

Bright lights,  

Blissful blessings,

But not free of burden or brokenness.

 Sit among the stars and smile.

Being Brave!

In an earlier blog I shared words of wisdom that I will always remember as I student teach.   This week I’m reflecting on: “You are always responsible for what comes after the phrase I am.”   These words of wisdom come from Jen Band, executive director of Playing for Others, a Charlotte youth non –profit that aims to “cultivate Innovative leaders, philanthropists, and compassionate human beings.”

 I was at a Playing for Others retreat as a volunteer and advocate for the mission of PFO when I first heard Jen remind her students of this wisdom.  Everyone at the event gathered in a circle to share “I am” statements.  The basic idea is that the PFO community celebrates the positive characteristics of one another.  This helps teens create positive self-identity and own it!  The result is AMAZING! I encourage you to pick three positive I am statements. Share them with a circle of people who can keep you accountable and uplifted about who you are!

The new semester begins on Wednesday! This means that I finally get to meet the students that I have the privilege to teach.  I have been nervous about taking on the role of student teacher / teacher since I began my pathway to teaching journey forever ago.  Managing a group of 38 students and keeping them authentically engaged for 90 minutes would be difficult for anyone but I keep worrying that executing the perfect lesson with  cerebral palsy might be slightly more difficult.   I want this blog to be a space of inspiration but I also want it to be an honest space.   As I continue to plan for my students there’s only one “I am" statement that consumes my thoughts.  I am so scared!  It’s important for me to own this “ I am” (even if it’s not all that positive.)   Admitting this nervousness has lead me to some deeper reflection. 

 First,  as a disabled person, I   spend  an abundant  amount of time elaborating  on the things I cannot do as well  or as fast ,  as others because I have a disability.    Sometimes, I have to prove how I can compensate for lack of ability.  Becoming a teacher encourages me to focus on my ability to make a difference in the world!  My goal this semester is to focus on the I AM ABLE....

 Next if I could tell the world anything about being brave I’d remind of this : Remember, that  your   ordinary might be  someone else’s  extraordinary! “  Celebrate accomplishments with kind words!

 Lastly, you can be simultaneously scared and brave!  It’s called having the courage to never give up!

To learn more about Playing  for Others  check out this link : https://playingforothers.org

Staying Inspired!

*Blogger's note*   This is a post about how my passion and commitment to education intersects with my faith.  It wasn't my intention to share too much faith on the blog but, this post is a  faith based reflection. 

This is my second week of student teaching.  I still have sometime before I take the lead in the classroom.   Observing and listening to the students and teachers around me has me worried.  Here are my biggest lessons from being at school this week.

•        Students really dislike history and care about passing state finals even less.
•       It reinforces my thoughts that there is way too much value in standardized testing.  I’ll be the first to tell you, standardized test don’t measure a student’s wiliness to learn.  My story proves this well!
•       Implementing strategies that I learned in education class are openly considered not practical. 
•      Students are ultimately interested in doing the least amount of work possible. This results in low teacher expectations.

   Truthfully, I’ve been worried about the realties of High school classroom for a while.  This week I faced this fear for the very first time.   Facing these fears lead to meaningful reflection about why despite all of these realties I still find tremendous hope in becoming a teacher.

In his book If Jesus were a Senior, Dr. Bruce Main mentions the idea of sustaining images.    Scholars define these as:  “Images that motivate people to keep their commitments”.     Furthermore, he writes, “these images that are often of injustice and suffering are God’s way of giving us courage!”  Dr. Main’s got me thinking.   School has always been both challenging and rewarding for me.  There were moments as high school student when I wondered if not making the mark on the standardized math test would keep me from going to college, or if I should take that advanced placement History course as a student who coped with a reading disability.     My math disabilities didn’t keep me from going to college and now, I have a History degree.   This is to say, that even though I had to try to be successful in school it is where I’ve always been most comfortable.   It’s the place where the playing field of life is most equal for me.

  

Perhaps, more significant than that the people have impacted me most are my teachers.  It would’ve been easy for them to give up on me because I had cerebral palsy but, they were determined to make sure I knew I was good enough to make an impact in the world--- that’s a feeling that I’ll never forget because they were not obligated to care but did!

 Moreover, as a college graduate who was filled with so much uncertainty, I was given the opportunity to volunteer in places that allowed my passion for education to come to life.   All of these places are non-profits that serve students who cope with a variety of adversity.      Volunteering with non-profits is one of life’s greatest gifts because each executive director/ founder saw a reason why life isn’t quite fair and gave their life to improving it.  This means as an aspiring teacher I’ve experienced what it really means to be part of an effort to build bridges and break barriers for students!

The care and action of others are my sustaining images.   My worry   can be overwhelming but so is the ever-amazing wonder that I’ve been given the courage  and opportunity to keep teaching!

But that doesn't mean that doing what you LOVE will be easy !

Better Days Start With Good Morning!

Last week I began my journey as a student teacher.  I find it fitting that I began the New Year in a classroom because it has been my life’s goal to be a schoolteacher.  Student teaching is a critical step to becoming a certified teacher. This is to say, that feel good resolutions usually fade by the end of January, but being committed to a goal takes commitment and perseverance.  I am still amazed that I’m actually a student teacher.  (That is if the snow ever melts around here!)

Nonetheless, this is an awkward time to begin my student teaching experience because students have not made the transition from first to second semester.  This means I have additional time to plan, but it also means that I haven’t met the students I will teach.  For now, most students consider me the stranger who sits in the front of the room.   On the first day of class, I sat in an empty desk without introducing myself and a student asked the teacher if I was a new student.

As teachers we are always ask to reflect on our experiences.  My biggest take away from this week is that almost no one says Good Morning!   I stood by the door everyday to greet nearly 115 students and I can count on one hand the number that responded.   

During my junior year in college my dearest friend had graduated and the other friends I had connected with had spent the semester abroad.  This made my semester super lonely.  It also helped me recognize the simple things that make me really happy.

·      Having someone say Good Morning! / Hello! This helps me know that someone recognizes that I will do some good in the world today!

·      A How are you?  Or are you okay today?  Truthfully, sometimes I don’t want to elaborate on how I am.   The OK question calls for yes without elaboration

·      Eating at least one meal a day with someone.    Everyone has to eat.  Make that time intentional!   I promise 15 minutes with someone can change their whole day.

·      Having someone say Good Night!  This helps me know that someone understands that I tried my best today!  What I did mattered.

As we head into the New Year remember that goals to create a better world and a better you aren’t meant to be complicated.   The first goal I ever wrote was to SMILE! J Better days start with Good Morning! 

 Have a wonderful day and let someone know they matter!

Words of Gratitude : A Julie Note

I believe in words of gratitude.  My Mom calls these words “Julie Notes.”    These notes are reflective and deeply heartfelt.    I wanted to ring in the New Year by posting a “Julie Note” to the blog.

Dear Friends,

This is a year of big transition.  This is to say, that for my entire life I have always been a student.  This week I will become a student teacher! There were days that I seriously doubted that this day would ever come and now it’s here.  Honestly, navigating the world as an adult with cerebral palsy is different and challenging.  I often question if I am strong enough and educated enough to be more than a student.    Am I really ready to take on the world? If you wait until you’re ready you’ll never go!

 As this transition begins my heart overflows with gratitude and my mind is overloaded with words of wisdom from the people who have inspired me.       As I begin to find my place in the world here’s what I will always remember:

It is less about what you know and more about who you are/ want to become. You can always learn.

It is important to be engaged in your learning but being engaged also means you show people you care.  For example, be a good listener.

Your passion (to teach) beats data any day! The test will work out eventually!

Work hard, be successful, and have fun!

Sometimes your success is measured by how you cross the finish line not when you finish the race. FINISH STRONG 

I am a LERD, this means I believe in----Love, Education, Respect  & Diversity

You don’t have to leave your comfort zone, just expand it!

Impact ----  The connection between your life and the lives you can change!

You are always responsible for what comes after the phrase I am.

When making a decision there are three things to think about: Is the decision I am about to make fair to all concerned, is it common sense, and most importantly is my decision pleasing to God.

Sometimes, I wish that navigating the world were easier. …. And then I remember that if it were  I wouldn’t have met so many extraordinary people!   You’ve taught me what it means to listen carefully and love deeply.  I can only be as strong as those who inspire me!     Thank you for believing in me!  You are AMAZING and I am a STUDENT TEACHER!! :) 

Joyfully, 

Julie 

 Ps. I purposely did not credit the words of wisdom.