IAM Thinking about the wonders of teaching

"While we try to teach all about life, students teach us what life is all about." ~Angela Schwindt

“A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell, where his influence stops.” Henry Brooks Adams

“I've come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom. It's my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher, I possess a tremendous power to make a child's life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated and a child humanized or de-humanized.” Dr. Haim Ginott

I could go on for hours about why I love teaching, and I could inundate this post with teaching quotations that really resonate with my experience and what I hope to accomplish in the classroom. And, I'm sure, there will be other posts about teaching later in this blog. But for now, I wanted to acknowledge what IAM Thinking...I have been really appreciative about my profession lately. Teaching gives me an energy and a high like nothing else in this world. It is amazing to think that I have the power to empower and influence students positively. If you think back to all different phases of your life, I am sure you will find a great teacher somewhere in there. I want to be THAT teacher to some.

I mentioned last post that being told that I have inspired someone is the best compliment that I have and could ever receive. The quotation by Henry Brooks Adams really sums up that ideal--to know that even one small thing that I have said to a student, perhaps even in passing, has made a difference in their life for the positive, that has resonated with them, that has helped them overcome an adversity, or to make them think differently about something, really speaks to the marvels of teaching.

This past week, I had some wonderful experiences that really reaffirmed why I love teaching and know that it is the career for me. First of all, I have been emailing back and forth with many of my former students from both public school and from the language school where I currently instruct. It has been an amazing feeling to know that I can still teaching and coach them and be involved in their lives long distance. I am happiest when I am helping others make sense of their own lives. I love knowing that I am in a position to encourage them---As Dr. Ginott says, I am the deciding factor in my own classroom and my approach to education. Then on Friday a few of my students had to say their goodbyes as they were going back to their home countries. They wrote me the most beautiful cards and told me how I have made an impact on their present lives and potentially on their futures. In the cards, they referred to events and experiences that happened inside my classroom that I didn't realize had any impact at all. Words are so powerful, and not many are blessed to be in a profession where they get to see the direct impact of their words.

Friday night I went back to the high school where I used to to teach to see my former students perform in their annual musical. Being there gave me such an energy, as I saw this talented group of students put on one of the best musicals that I have ever seen. I was reflecting on how surreal it has been to watch this group of students mature and come into their own as people. I felt like they were celebrities up on stage performing, and I experienced a sense of pride that I can only imagine a parent has for their children when they accomplish such accolades. What was even more amazing was, as I was there, marveling over the talents of these students, they were approaching me and thanking ME for the role that I have played in their life and development and telling me how much they miss me. I ran into other students who were there as spectators who were updating me about their future plans for college---some of whom just got into their dream colleges and/or got full scholarships to prestigious universities. Others just told me how much I was missed at the school and updated me about the happenings. I was so overwhelmed with pride and energy seeing my former students and seeing the people who they are shaping up to be. They truly inspire me and remind me what life is all about (excuse my ending a sentence with a preposition).

Teaching is such a unique experience....and I do not take it for granted. As it has been said many times before, we may not make a fortune, but we have the ability to MAKE A DIFFERENCE. How many other people can say that?!

If more teachers got into teaching for the right reasons and ignored the stigma of "oh, you're only a teacher" or "how much do you really make?", imagine how amazing our world would be.

This is what IAM thinking...what about you?!

IAM Thinking...about inspiration

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined."~Henry David Thoreau

When I first became a blogger (yesterday), I wrote that I have been inspired more than usual lately, and so today IAM thinking about inspiration. Where does it come from? How can we capture it and savor it? What motivates us to act on it?

A few weeks ago in Harvard Square someone put up a large, colorful collection of post-it notes that read, "Who Inspires You?" I absolutely loved this public display of inquiry. I encouraged all of my students to go and check it out, but I didn't capitalize more on this teachable moment. So now, I am thinking about this and posing these questions here again.

Inspiration is a funny thing....I pretty much get inspired on a daily basis. I am inspired by the books I read and the stories that I hear from others. I am inspired by my parents for working hard to create the comfortable life that we all have and my siblings for following their dreams and creating their own lives. I think there is something special about seeing people progress, and by the same tocken, their journeys are inspirational. I am inspired by all of my friends--new and old--and all of their amazing ideas and journeys that they have created for themselves. I am inspired by so many of my family members. I am inspired by my Nonno and Nonna for coming to this country without knowing a word of English and creating a life for themselves. I am inspired by my Bubbie and Grandpa and their beautiful outlook on enjoying life, which they instilled in me. I am inspired by former teachers and former classmates. Even if some of these relationships have been fleeting, they have taught me very important lessons and inspired me. I am inspired by former karate instructor, Mr. T. and his positivity and by all of my students, past and present. Ultimately, I am inspired by life.

If I had to sum up some of the most inspirational people, I would say those who take life by the horns; those who truly LIVE life instead of going through the motions; those who make decisions based on intuition and who voice their opinions regardless of what the reaction of others might be. I am inspired by people who succeed in the face of fear and who follow their dreams and take action. I am inspired by those who are committed to making a difference, however big or small, and however they decide to do it. I am inspired by those who journey into the unknown and who aren't afraid to make mistakes. I am inspired by so many types of people that this concept is too global for me to even contain right now.

As you can my list of inspirations goes on and on, and quite frankly, I could sit her for hours just acknowledging the role that so many have had in my life or trying to compartmentalize and qualify the idea of inspiration. I know that if you were to stop and think about this question, you would have an equally long and comprehensive list. I think that the main thing that I am thinking today is that if someone inspires us, we should share that with them. In fact, this week someone told me that I inspire them, and honestly, I think that was the best compliment that I have ever received. So today, tomorrow, some time in the future, if someone inspires you, let them know :)

This is what IAM thinking...how about you?

IAM Thinking...What Does it Mean to be an American?

This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave. ~Elmer Davis

There's the country of America, which you have to defend, but there's also the idea of America. America is more than just a country, it's an idea. An idea that's supposed to be contagious.

Bono (1960 - ), Oprah Winfrey Show, 2002

So I have been thinking about this question a lot recently. It really struck me this past weekend when I was in our nation's capital for the FIRST TIME EVER, and I was being shown around by one friend from Egypt, another friend from Lebanon, and two friends from Iran. What is wrong with this picture?!

My contemplation has further been brought about by a few factors. One--all of my travel experiences and the fact that everyone else seems to have a better grasp on their country than we, the American people as a whole, do. And actually, I feel that many people have a better grasp on OUR COUNTRY (as noted in my previous post) than most of us do. I am not writing this pompously or condescendingly as I am just as guilty as the next person, and I realize that I am generalizing a bit, as a lot of people do fully comprehend and appreciate America in various ways. But as an observation on the whole, I find our lack of Patriotism disheartening. In fact, I feel like it's sad that we live in an American society where a majority of citizens can name the cast of the Jersey Shore before they can name who is in the US Cabinet. But again, I am 100% guilty of this ignorance as well. It is just an observation.

Beyond that I've been thinking about multiculturalism as I started teaching ESL students this school year. Are we a multicultural nation? I mean I guess on paper we are---as we have multiple cultures living here. However, do we value these cultures and the diversity? I guess it goes back to the age old question--are we a salad bowl or a melting pot? Do we value the differences, or do we want everyone to conform to one type of "American"? How many people care to learn about other cultures, and how many people feel that they don't need to learn another language because "everyone speaks English". How many people are guilty of xenophobia in a country where most of us are originally "xenos" or at least our ancestors were? (Is that the correct terminology--ahh--the plight of the English teacher). Additionally, one of my questions in ESL this week is do things get "lost in translation" in a multicultural society? While I think this is possible, I still feel that the benefits outweigh the negatives of this possibility. There may be different ways to express the same feelings, and in that case, yes, things do inevitably get "lost in translation"; however, I think there is a universal language that we all speak, and that completely transcends words.

So I am posing these questions...because they are things that I am thinking about. Personally, I have done a lot of travelling. However, I have made the observation recently that I have only been to about 10-12 states in the US. I spend so much time appreciating other countries, and now I want to start appreciating my own. Some time in the future, not sure how near, but it is definitely on my Bucket List, I will take a cross country trip. I think that this is something every American should do. I think it's time that we stop taking our great nation and all of its counterparts for granted and that we start discovering what it really means to be an American.

This is what IAM Thinking...what do you think?!

IAM Thinking...entering the blogosphere is exciting!

The skill of writing is to create a context in which other people can think.~Edwin Schlossberg

So...I figured I would try this whole blogosphere thing as it is one of my personal goals to write more and because I AM always thinking! (Get it IAMele?!--trying to be clever!)

I have been inspired more than usual this year from all of my travel experiences, life experiences, international teaching, and the people that I have met along the way. I am also trying to be "present" more, and I think writing and reflecting provides a great way to do that. Maybe no one will read my blogs, in which case these words would be better served as journal entries meant for my own eyes; however, there is something empowering about "publishing" your thoughts. This concept is an aspect of the 21st century that I do not take for granted. Anyone can put anything out there these days. As individuals we all have a tremendous amount of power and the ability to have our voices heard. Some people may use this power differently than others, and some people may not fully comprehend the magnitude of what they put out there for the world to see. Nonetheless, we all have this power. So I AM capitalizing on it :)

Okay...introduction blog done. Click Publish, and I am officially in the blogosphere :)