Thought of the Day: May 31st, 2015

Words of wisdom from a Canadian legend

Life as an educator is forever changing and it should be, as no day in which we teach is ever the same. There are no certainties in our profession.  Teachers constantly deal with an onslaught of demands, wants, and needs on a continual basis but that is what makes our jobs such a unique craft within itself.  Being at our best demands that we  pay close attention to  everything happening within our teaching space.  It's no easy task. However, I would argue that it is the greatest job in the world because as we navigate through  time and teaching, we are impacting those  who matter most;  the difference makers of the future. 

Such an extraordinary responsibility to  be in charge of a young person's future, but as educators,  that is exactly what is happening.  We have the ability and capacity to make an  amazing difference and to direct the hopes, dreams, and aspirations of  those  under our care.  When we sign up to be teachers, we often times fail to realize the enormity of the impact that we  potentially possess.  Never is there a  day that is the  same in teaching.  The beauty of our profession is that every day is unique, yet at the same time, challenging us to be our best, to be  fully competent at what we do. 

As I plough through one of the best books I've read,  written  by Chris Hadfield, a famous Canadian astronaut,  I  want to share a quote that is extremely applicable to all we do as educators and it has to do with competence.

---

Competence means keeping your head in a crisis, sticking with a task even when it seems hopeless, and improvising good solutions to tough problems when every second counts. It encompasses ingenuity, determination, and being prepared for anything. 

Does our profession need a sense of urgency? I would argue, YES.  Things need to change drastically if we are to create long term sustainable change  to impact the future that we envision for our students and our children.  We need to understand that we hold the power to change the world,  but every second counts. Thanks for reading.