Success is measured in many different ways. For some, they have placed a dollar value, or a material value such as a large house and a nice car. For others, success is measured by the numbers of relationships or partnerships formed. What seems clear is that there is some gauge for which this measurement can be made by. I think I struggle with knowing how I define success. After spending so much of my life feeling like I have failed, I have forgotten what the standard of my success was. Life and its struggles and demands have clouded my purposes, so the clarity I thought I once had is no longer able to be deciphered.
So now I find myself in the position of redefining my standard of success. Ironically, my own success is almost completely determined by the success of my students; and by default, how they themselves define their successes. And as we celebrate their attainment of their everyday goals (finish the state test, avoid drama, to get all 4s in my classes) the true measure of my success can only be measured down the road, when they become adults and meet their own standard of success.
As I reflect back on my time as a student, I realize, that I was lucky enough to have many teachers that also lived by this measure of success. Mr. Luer, who brought history alive; Mrs. Bronson, who was determined that every middle school student would have an organized 5 subject notebook complete with spelling lists, and sentence diagrams; Mr. K, who was never in my teacher, but represented the fun and joy in finally being a senior in high school; my yoga coach who helped relieve my body of a crippling injury and taught me, "that what my mind can see, I can acheive"; Mr. Martindale, who encouraged me to express myself in print; Professor Victor Cole, who opened my mind to my strengths as a teacher; Dr. Nadine Haley who always believed I would, Professor Maxson,who shared the joy of exploration in science; AP Mauri Melander, who pushed and questioned, and supported; and Mentor LaCoursiere who collaborated and expanded me as a professional. Those of you here, and the ones I missed, you can be assured that in me, you have attained your own success. Thank you for teaching me, thank you for loving me, thank you for believing in me!
So now I find myself in the position of redefining my standard of success. Ironically, my own success is almost completely determined by the success of my students; and by default, how they themselves define their successes. And as we celebrate their attainment of their everyday goals (finish the state test, avoid drama, to get all 4s in my classes) the true measure of my success can only be measured down the road, when they become adults and meet their own standard of success.
As I reflect back on my time as a student, I realize, that I was lucky enough to have many teachers that also lived by this measure of success. Mr. Luer, who brought history alive; Mrs. Bronson, who was determined that every middle school student would have an organized 5 subject notebook complete with spelling lists, and sentence diagrams; Mr. K, who was never in my teacher, but represented the fun and joy in finally being a senior in high school; my yoga coach who helped relieve my body of a crippling injury and taught me, "that what my mind can see, I can acheive"; Mr. Martindale, who encouraged me to express myself in print; Professor Victor Cole, who opened my mind to my strengths as a teacher; Dr. Nadine Haley who always believed I would, Professor Maxson,who shared the joy of exploration in science; AP Mauri Melander, who pushed and questioned, and supported; and Mentor LaCoursiere who collaborated and expanded me as a professional. Those of you here, and the ones I missed, you can be assured that in me, you have attained your own success. Thank you for teaching me, thank you for loving me, thank you for believing in me!