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A Chance

I was fortunate to spend part of my Labor Day weekend at a family picnic. As I approached the crowd already gathered in the yard, I recognized a woman in attendance. It was Laurie. I met Laurie nearly 24 years ago and back then I called her Mrs. Wells.

In 1992, I had just graduated from the College of New Rochelle and had been earnestly applying for teaching positions all across upstate NY. I was called to interview in a district an hour north of where I lived. It was in a place I had never visited. Yet, they needed a special education teacher for a long term leave and I so wanted a chance to teach.

Long story very short, I was hired to act as a long term substitute for Mrs. Wells. As I sat at the picnic, next to Laurie, I began to think about what a chance she had taken on me a very long time ago. I was a brand new special education teacher with NO paid experience. 

 She welcomed me into that position with open arms. She allowed me to call her at any time with all of the questions I had. She never made me feel as though I could not complete the position. She never criticized my work. Her feedback was always positive and supportive. When I made mistakes, she used them as learning opportunities for me. She'd share her own experiences which would only help me learn more. It was an amazing first experience for me.

In and out of conversations at the family picnic, I began to daydream about that time (which did not feel nearly as long ago as it really was) and wondered where I would be in my career without that chance. 

What if she never gave me that chance?

Would I have had the privilege of such a rewarding and varied career without that first opportunity?

I was reminded by a dear colleague that we all have that one person to thank for taking a chance on us. Some of us are even more fortunate and have multiple people to thank for various opportunities throughout our careers.  Sometimes, we are given a chance to do something new and sometimes we are given a chance to just do better than we did the day before.

That opportunity had me thinking about the start of school and how our students need that chance:
  • to be supported
  • to be heard
  • to be seen
  • to be celebrated
  • to be forgiven

 That's really what a new school year is about for all of us. It's another chance to do some of the most important work in the world and a chance to get it right. It's a chance for adults and students alike.  It's an opportunity to use all of the chances we have been given and to pay it forward.  

Where would any of us be without that first or even second chance?




"The realm of possibility exists where? In each of you."

Comments

  1. Stacia SheehanSeptember 7, 2015 at 9:16 PM

    What a great thing to read the night before school begins!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownSeptember 7, 2015 at 9:40 PM

      Hey WOW! Thanks Stacia. I hope you have an awesome first day tomorrow! :)

      Delete
  2. Jennifer HoganSeptember 8, 2015 at 7:07 AM

    What a wonderful mentor you had as a first-year teacher. She sounds like a special person, and I bet you are paying it forward every day. Have a great school year!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousSeptember 9, 2015 at 9:04 PM

      Jenn, she truly is amazing. It was neat to write this in her honor.

      Delete
  3. Scott OsborneSeptember 8, 2015 at 10:12 PM

    Lisa - you're so good at capturing those moments that shape us as professionals. I certainly benefited from someone giving me that one chance and I'm thankful that you've reminded us to 'not forget where we come from' as professionals and people. Bravo and thank you! ~Scott

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousSeptember 9, 2015 at 9:05 PM

      Thanks for "getting" me, Scott. I agree that it is very important for us to NOT forget our journey or those that helped us along our paths. I count you among those I have been blessed with meeting.

      Delete

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