Or: Sigo siendo aprendiz
If you've seen the homepage for my site recently (or ever, really), you know that I chose an interesting descriptor for myself: contributor to the human collective. Admittedly, this sounds outlandish and even cocky. But I like to think of it more as a goal for myself and a pledge to you (whoever you may be). I have been blessed in my life to have countless teachers, mentors, leaders and role models. I daily benefit from the good ideas of those before and around me. I've always strived to "pay it forward" and be the same to others around me, but as a full-time salaried educator (read: adult), it feels official (read: obligatory) now.
This brings me to my point. As young professionals and young adults, we have to go through an awkward and somewhat rocky transition. People that were once my teachers are now my colleagues. Even weirder, I'm in a work environment where teachers with many more years of experience than I have look to me to take lead on certain projects or advisory roles. (Ok, well, really it's just one teacher. Details.) ANYWAY, it makes me realize that, while it may seem that everything has changed, nothing really has. My mentors (both old and new) are still my mentors, if by no other credential than my willingness to learn from them. Likewise, my ability to teach, lead, and inspire someone else is not determined by my age or experience. Rather, the deciding factor is whether I have something worth learning, following, and being inspired by.
If you are familiar with MAX teaching, we have reached the eXtension part of the "lesson." Almost there! Every teacher has that one class that is challenging, if for no other reason than their desire to talk, and one of mine got to me yesterday. Having tried other tricks, we had one of those sad moments where Sr. Bradshaw hops on his soapbox and preaches on appropriate behavior in the classroom. To my chagrin, I became THAT GUY that used the "I have two degrees and I've earned the right to be listened to." line. In my defense, they had just been hung on the wall so I was in a bit of a place. To my students' (and God's for that matter) credit, I was immediately put in my place. One student modestly raised his hand and asked if I would also listen to them.
Now, I'm all in favor of teachable moments, but all I could do was agree, then sit down and shut up because he had done the teaching for me. Here's another pledge (I should keep a list) that I hope you'll join me in making. I will forever do my best to learn from EVERYONE around me, and to be the best version of myself that I can be so that others around me have the opportunity to learn as well. That, my friends and colleagues, is contributing to the human collective.
The title is the name of a song by The Byrds, which is itself a remake of Ecclesiastes 3. For everything there is a time. But for every time, there are often multiple things. (Things meaning roles, goals, opportunities, etc.)
This brings me to my point. As young professionals and young adults, we have to go through an awkward and somewhat rocky transition. People that were once my teachers are now my colleagues. Even weirder, I'm in a work environment where teachers with many more years of experience than I have look to me to take lead on certain projects or advisory roles. (Ok, well, really it's just one teacher. Details.) ANYWAY, it makes me realize that, while it may seem that everything has changed, nothing really has. My mentors (both old and new) are still my mentors, if by no other credential than my willingness to learn from them. Likewise, my ability to teach, lead, and inspire someone else is not determined by my age or experience. Rather, the deciding factor is whether I have something worth learning, following, and being inspired by.
If you are familiar with MAX teaching, we have reached the eXtension part of the "lesson." Almost there! Every teacher has that one class that is challenging, if for no other reason than their desire to talk, and one of mine got to me yesterday. Having tried other tricks, we had one of those sad moments where Sr. Bradshaw hops on his soapbox and preaches on appropriate behavior in the classroom. To my chagrin, I became THAT GUY that used the "I have two degrees and I've earned the right to be listened to." line. In my defense, they had just been hung on the wall so I was in a bit of a place. To my students' (and God's for that matter) credit, I was immediately put in my place. One student modestly raised his hand and asked if I would also listen to them.
Now, I'm all in favor of teachable moments, but all I could do was agree, then sit down and shut up because he had done the teaching for me. Here's another pledge (I should keep a list) that I hope you'll join me in making. I will forever do my best to learn from EVERYONE around me, and to be the best version of myself that I can be so that others around me have the opportunity to learn as well. That, my friends and colleagues, is contributing to the human collective.
The title is the name of a song by The Byrds, which is itself a remake of Ecclesiastes 3. For everything there is a time. But for every time, there are often multiple things. (Things meaning roles, goals, opportunities, etc.)