Cultivate Relationships, Enjoy Life, and Make a Difference. Don’t you love that mission statement? It is hanging in the Hurricane Coffee Company in Sequim, Washington, but it is just as applicable to and reminiscent of you and the work you do in classrooms.
We know that you cultivate relationships with students, their parents, and your teammates. We know your intentional, focused instruction is making a difference in the lives of the children you devote so much time to. And we know that many of you truly enjoy this job even though it’s one of the hardest ones on earth, and that you can’t imagine devoting your life to anything else.
It’s the time of year when we like to focus on how we can buoy ourselves and strengthen our resilience so we can finish the year with energy and joy. On her blog, Amy Greick writes 12 tips for surviving the first year of teaching, but the advice is applicable for thriving during any year of teaching. Here are just a few of her suggestions:
- Have an outlet to relieve stress that is completely unrelated to teaching.
- Make peace with the fact that you will not be able to “do it all.”
- Celebrate small achievements.
- Find something to love about every single kid, no matter how tough that might be.
- Think of something you loved about the day before leaving school, no matter how small it is.
Head over to Juice Boxes and Crayolas if you’d like to read the entire blog post.
When Kathy Bates honored Shirley MacLaine at the Kennedy Center Honors in 2013, she ended her speech with words that made me think of all of you. (Insert your name in place of Shirley’s, and replace artist with teacher.)
Shirley, friend of my heart, I am so proud to be here tonight to celebrate your magnificent accomplishments as an artist. I know you don’t think of yourself as magnificent or even deserving. You’re just passionate about what you do and you’re still working hard at it. Don’t ever stop! We think you’re magnificent. Now. And forever.
So true. We know you are passionate about what you do and are still working hard at it. As end-of-the-school-year pressures, time crunches, and stress begin to mount, don’t stop. Don’t get discouraged. We think you’re magnificent, too. Cultivate relationships, enjoy life, and keep making a difference.
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