It was the end of a long few days. Days that felt fuller of mistakes than accomplishments. Days that felt bumpier than they needed to be. I was saying good night to a colleague and caught myself almost commenting about how hard this job is.
And in that thought, a split moment, my mind hit rewind like an old cassette tape. Back to the third grade and I am writing about how I wanted to grow up and become a teacher. To me, there was no greater goal than to become an educator.
And then, I'm remembering watching my mom and her struggle through grueling jobs like waitress, chambermaid, bartender and cashier. She worked long shifts and often without full compensation due. She'd come home, worn out and dog gone tired.
Those were hard jobs.
I was only having a hard day.
The field I've worked in since 1992 isn't my job. It's a calling. As cheeky as that sounds, how fortunate have I been to work in a field I so admired since age 8? The experience didn't come without hard work, student loan debt, struggle, doubt and massive efforts. But, it's been an amazing career. Each experience somehow leads me to the next one and has helped me to improve and stretch my skills.
Each obstacle teaches me something.
So I stand before this hurdle trying to figure out the lesson needing to be learned -- this time.
I have a female administrator that I act as an unofficial mentor to. One of the funniest things she often asks me is, "How do you know this?! No one taught us this in leadership school". I always laugh at this and remind her I've had so many more years of experiences, good and bad, to absorb these details.
I've had so many more days to stumble and get back up.
I've had just as many more days to realize how grateful I am to be able to serve in this field.
This acknowledgment of service is the feeling that should always overshadow the days of struggle...each and every time.
"Only rainbows, after rain."
And in that thought, a split moment, my mind hit rewind like an old cassette tape. Back to the third grade and I am writing about how I wanted to grow up and become a teacher. To me, there was no greater goal than to become an educator.
And then, I'm remembering watching my mom and her struggle through grueling jobs like waitress, chambermaid, bartender and cashier. She worked long shifts and often without full compensation due. She'd come home, worn out and dog gone tired.
Those were hard jobs.
I was only having a hard day.
The field I've worked in since 1992 isn't my job. It's a calling. As cheeky as that sounds, how fortunate have I been to work in a field I so admired since age 8? The experience didn't come without hard work, student loan debt, struggle, doubt and massive efforts. But, it's been an amazing career. Each experience somehow leads me to the next one and has helped me to improve and stretch my skills.
Each obstacle teaches me something.
So I stand before this hurdle trying to figure out the lesson needing to be learned -- this time.
I Will Survive - Alien Song
I have a female administrator that I act as an unofficial mentor to. One of the funniest things she often asks me is, "How do you know this?! No one taught us this in leadership school". I always laugh at this and remind her I've had so many more years of experiences, good and bad, to absorb these details.
I've had so many more days to stumble and get back up.
I've had just as many more days to realize how grateful I am to be able to serve in this field.
This acknowledgment of service is the feeling that should always overshadow the days of struggle...each and every time.
"Only rainbows, after rain."
Andy Grammer: Keep Your Head Up
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