I’m saying it right now, right here.
I just don’t think that enough people are proud of what
they do. I mean, in general, not just in
education.
I was craving something just awful for me tonight. I know, I know, I should have eaten something
so organic and natural it came from my backyard but honestly… I wanted McDonald’s
fries. And, they are so far from real
food, that nothing else fulfills that craving.
And guess what? They
were wonderful. Sorry, not sorry. But here is the thing. The people that worked there are doing just
that. WORKING there. I mean, I get
it. Working at McDonalds has been a joke
for years. But why? Why not just wake up and take PRIDE in what
you do, whatever it is you do? If you
don’t, or can’t, maybe it’s the motivation you need to do something else.
As I pondered what the sundae I decided to get was
actually made of (stop judging me, I get it, it’s bad) I couldn't help but
think about it further. I think every
person has high and low points at their job but who is PROUD of what they
do?
The first jobs that came to mind, of course, are the jobs
where people are truly in it to HELP people.
Helping people is something that you can “hang your hat on” when it
comes to the end of the day. Helping
people, no matter what, elevates your mood, makes you feel good, and increases
the desire to do it over and over and over.
Maybe I should have told those people at McDonald’s how
much I loved their product. How often do
we do that? Why not send a positive
e-mail, instead of just a complaint. Why
not tell someone how the good thing made you feel, instead of going on social
media to speak out about how awful something is? Our society is too focused on failure. Perfection is the goal. Wait, what?
Why? That seems too far from
reality and, yet, it’s the expectation.
As a teacher, am I perpetuating it?
Teaching isn't perfect.
It’s far from it. But I am so
proud of what I do. Seriously. When I feel like I am helping a student it
makes me shine. You know what doesn't make me shine? Handing back a paper to a student who fails. What does that mean? I didn't help them? I didn't help them enough? I don’t plan to help them? I’m torn on being
proud of being an educator and also being the person that tells a tiny person
they failed.
This past weekend, the most amazing, thoughtful, kind,
charming, and intelligent lady I don’t *actually* know but feel like I have
known for years began a “campaign” to raise my Twitter following. (@tritonkory, stop right now and follow her please). And here is the thing… I didn't feel like a failure because I wasn't at 1,000 followers or because I didn't make it to 1,000 followers. I felt
honored and excited that someone cared enough about me to help me.
I also thought about other areas of my personal life. I fail often.
I forget to turn in my library books, I forgot to pay the water bill, I
said I would do something and I just didn't.
You know what I have found? I may
have to pay a fine or apologize but I get to try again. It makes me better. It helps me remember. It isn't one strike, you’re out.
So, as I start a new week tomorrow, I want to keep that in
mind. I am proud because I help
people. Am I helping or just serving people what they expect? I hope it is never the latter
because that is not the peg I want my hat on.