Choosing to learn.
Choosing to learn is exciting when it is something we choose to do, something we are passionate and anticipate with great exhilaration and zeal.
I
can remember clearly which class subjects when taught by certain teachers were environments in which I was inspired to learn more. As a young child and even in high school and parts of college, much of the intrigue and motivation came from the trust, encouragement, kindness and sincerity of the instructor rather solely on the subject being taught. Case in point, public speaking became more enjoyable for me in college because my instructor cared about each of her students, acknowledged our
strengths along with needed areas of improvement and applauded when growth occurred.
The
United States has been at the epicenter of unrest the past two weeks as a result of unchosen and disheartening events; however in this moment, we are all being called to be students. To learn. To be present. To deepen our understanding. I have taken an approach of choosing to be a student, choosing to begin exploring what I do not know, do not understand, and acknowledge that I need to do something. My “do something” will be what stretches me, and each of us will be stretching in our own
way based on our life experiences leading up to where we find ourselves at this moment in history should you choose to be a student as well. You may not see me at protests, you will not see me sharing oodles of content on social media, but that does not mean I am not choosing to do something to eradicate the roots of racism.
This
week I exercised responding rather than reacting, trying to model for my students what I have taught them: bring a critical thinker, asking helpful questions, seeking out credible sources for information, and listening well. This week also found me being involved in helping to graduate our Class of 2020 seniors (approximately 400 high school students) which due to new health guidelines took 14 hours over the course of two days as each family could only bring six members of loved ones and
only one student at a time could graduate in the designated space inside the building. While I was in the parking lot directing traffic (thankfully, it did not rain), seeing the cars decorated in celebratory balloons and signs, doors opening to reveal a flood of excited and supportive family and friends, I was reminded that when we are determined to make something happen, we can indeed make it happen if we communicate clearly, engage all parties with respect and understanding of how we arrived
at where we are, and work together to make the reality we wish to see come to fruition.
How
we inspire others to learn and discover what they don’t know is not by berating or dividing or assuming, but by creating a space of safety in which they can explore when they want to, when they feel safe to do so. We cannot force someone to learn, but we can choose to learn for ourselves and that in and of itself may be inspiration for others to become a student on a topic they never thought they needed or wanted to know more about prior to walking into your “classroom”. In this
week’s This & That post I have shared the book I will be reading this summer (something I shared with my students this week as I gathered up resources for them to explore), as well as a handful of posts that may be helpful to explore based on where you find gaps in your understanding about the history of racism, and much more.
Each
of us is a teacher in our own way, not by what we tell others to do, but by what we model – how we live. Forever being a student exemplifies that the learning goes on and will forever continue so long as we choose to be open, so long as we choose to acknowledge we do not and cannot know everything, but we can always learn more.
However, something I do know is that the weekend has arrived and the sunshine is out and the school year is being wrapped up in just a few days time. This week’s newsletter will take you to Paris as my guest on the podcast joins me from the City of Light to talk about his new book as well as what it has been like being in Paris this spring. You will also be able to step into my yard and garden to see what projects I am currently working on and what I hope they
will one day become. As well, three more posts are shared that you have come to expect each week on the blog and are ready for you to explore.
I
want to thank you for reading today’s newsletter with an open-mind and a hopeful heart. We are all, all over the world, under a unique and unwanted strain that while unknown is heavier than we may realize. It is easy to want to just walk away from it all, ignore it, close your eyes and just imagine a different world. Thankfully, through this struggle, should we choose to wrestle to see the light, we can find it. It is there, and I am thankful we have an opportunity for growth. Let’s choose to
strive forward, together.
Wishing you much wellness is all areas of your life and thank you for subscribing to TSLL’s weekly newsletter. Have a wonderful weekend, and until next week, I will see you on the blog.
