Do Something for Someone Else, Every Day

In the life of a teacher, at least five days a week are committed to helping students learn and to making a difference in their lives. Some times, on days like today, when we don't have school, I am a loss of what to do with myself. I know that I should have spent a significant amount of time planning for the coming week, but I lacked the motivation and the drive. Spending a few hours in the classroom this afternoon, it just wasn't the same without any one else in the building besides the janitors. Even the few questionable arc welds I put out this afternoon did not motivate me to create those lesson plans that are vital to helping me be a prepared and effective teacher.  

Some of the rosaries I've made of late.

Finally, at a loss, I texted my good friend Torie, saying, "I'm in need of company and motivation. Any suggestions?" (It has been kind of a lonely day with out instructing several groups of students) Not five minutes later did I text her back saying, "Answering my own question. Do something for someone else." Her response came within three minutes of my second text, "You are good! If it was me... I would write a letter or work out or call a friend!"  By that time, I had grabbed some string to sit on the porch swing on this cool autumn afternoon to tie knots and make a rosary. I had also left my phone inside, and a short while later simply returned to read Torie's message, responding with, "Making a rosary helped some. I'll proceed through the list."


Well, I've not exactly tackled each of those items on the list that Torie sent me, but I did attempt to take my focus off myself and consider some people in my life who I've not talked to for quite some time. I had several facebook messages and wall posts I have been meaning to respond to for quite some time.  I've tackled those this evening. I had not talked to my brother Alfonse for quite awhile either. We got a good forty plus minutes of conversation in on his drive to Manhattan. I am not really one for phone talking, but with Alfonse, I can manage it.  Hopefully, and God willing, I will hash out a letter or two yet this evening before hitting the hay. 


All this reminds me of a story from sophomore year of college. It was spring break, and I was living in the Royal Towers complex in Manhattan with two close friends of mine. I had decided to stick around while they had gone home. Most college spring breaks met me with a sewing project, which was the same that year. At one point, I recall sitting on the couch with my laptop, browsing facebook and feeling sorry for myself that no one had written on my wall in quite some time. It dawned on me. "Jackie, people aren't just going to feel sorry for you and write on your wall from time to time. You've got to be generous and write on other people's walls." 

While my initial intention might have been to receive some affection from others, even through a simple facebook wall post, I learned in that moment that we often feel better about ourselves when we do something for someone else. That is, when we focus on others, we feel like a better person (even if that's not what we think about). This idea is also supported by Sean Covey's 7 Habits for Teens, in the chapter on the Personal Bank account. Make personal deposits into your own account and into other people's accounts by doing something for them, especially without them asking. There is a balance between gloating and humbly helping others. What have you done for others lately?

This evening, I feel much better about myself for the time I have invested in other people, even if through technology and social media such as facebook and cell phones, and not person to person. And hopefully, tomorrow, at the start of a new day, I will be more geared up for tackling the tasks I need to. Praise God. Thanks Torie for being a resounding wall. Aww-spiration.

The Other Side

Thursday morning. Courtyard Mariott Hotel. 30 minutes from Conseco Field House. Shower. Get Dressed. Attach Advisor button to lapel. Pass out Student buttons to ten students. Load fifty students on Kincaid bus. Ride to downtown Indianapolis. Herd the group into Conseco for the Opening Session of the 83rd  National FFA Convention. Music, feelings, emotions and memories. Now, I'm on the other side.

Can you imagine being there with us? Nine years ago, I wore the student button and the location was Freedom Hall in Louisville, Kentucky. Many a folks have experience National FFA Convention either as a member, college student (exhibitor) or an advisor. Some have the experience of both. This year was my first on the other side.

When I was a freshmen in high school, our school drive two suburbans on the nine or eleven hour trek to the sea of Blue and Gold. Miss Wimmer and Mr. Granzow guided us on tours, like that of Louisville Slugger museum, exposed us to new restaurants, like the Old Spaghetti Factory, and gifted us with the experience of attending sessions of the National FFA Convention. I still remember hearing Anne Knapke's retiring address with stories of astronomy and being kind to the person that was different in the college dormitory. I recall telling older students in our group that I thought I might want to become a national officer down the road (not in God's plans for me, though). They responded with encouraging words. The experience evoked emotion within me and set me on track for an FFA career full of friends, travel, competition, leadership and many life lessons. 

Now, I've just returned from attending my seventh National FFA Convention, this time as an advisor (well, almost). Traveling with a group of student from five other FFA chapters in the area, we departed for convention early Wednesday morning and returned late Saturday evening. No suburbans this time, we were on a tour bus. This allowed us as advisors to have a few less worries, and allowed the students to make a few more new friends. There were still tours, restaurants, and sessions, but this time, I wasn't there for myself. We were there to guide the students and help them to enjoy the experience. 

Entering into Conseco behind the students, memories came flooding back of my convention experiences as a greenhand, as a junior in high school, as a state officer, and as a former teammate of one of the national officers. Wow. Music, laughter, friends, retiring addresses, keynote speakers.  Memories made, for me. I could only imaging what memories would be made for my students this time and for years to come.  Before the session began that morning, I texted Mr. Granzow to tell him "It is more rewarding to bring students to experience this than it was to experience it myself... Thank you for everything." This is the other side.

Traveling in our group were two other students teachers, experiencing convention on the other side for the first time, like me. We had numerous opportunities to reflect and share our thoughts with one another about what it was like to be there, selflessly. I'm grateful to know the other side. I'm grateful to have experienced the other side for the first time with Jeremy and Justin. I'm grateful for all the ways in which FFA impacts the lives of students.  Aww-spiration.   

I Go Back

Many of us know the words to this song by Kenny Chesney. "I go back to a two-tone short bed Chevy, driving my first love out to the levy, living life with no sense of time. I go back to a fifty-yard line..." Tonight, that song has more relevance for me than it ever has

This evening was the annual Harvest Ball for the C-vale FFA Chapter. Costumes, musical chairs, bobbing for apples, hay-rack rides, a bonfire and smores about sums up the evening. The part I wasn't really prepared for before tonight was the memories that came flooding back from my own high school experience as I witnessed the personalities of my students come alive outside of the classroom. Not to mention two freshmen holding hands as they parted this evening, which caught me by surprise. I had no idea they were a couple. Only five years removed from my senior year, I am still trying to grasp what it is like to be in high school. Why? So I can better relate to my students. 

As I was parting ways with my cooperating teacher this evening after cleaning up, I mentioned that the event took me back to my high school days. "Makes us who we are," was her reply. Isn't that true?

I'm sure that my high school experience differs from many peoples. But at the same time, we all probably experienced some of the same things. I recall the classes, from English and biology, world history, American government, introduction to agriculture, chemistry and physics to agriculture business... each was an opportunity to learn something. I'm sure I did not see it that way at the time. I cannot recall any specific content I learned, while I might be able to describe some of the concepts and titles of books we read. I can remember the teachers, and how dedicated they were to helping students learn. (That's a whole other blog.)

I also remember the people; my friends, the nerds, the jocks, the druggies, the aggies, the churchy-kind, etc. Yup, even with only about 100 kids in the high school, we still had our clicks. I remember the older kids I looked up to, like Maria, Andrea, Kristin and Cecilia. I remember the kids that hardly any one ever talked to, like Matthew and Roberta. I remember many of us getting wrapped up in high school relationships. And I was one of those girls. 

As a freshmen, I started dating a junior. Our volleyball coach had a rule that you didn't start a relationship during volleyball season, and you didn't end a relationship during volleyball season. You stuck it out. Funny how the day we lost our last volleyball match of the season at regionals, that late October Tuesday, Aaron asked me at. Hmm. I think I was even still wearing my volleyball uniform. Oh to be young again, and as careless... the things that went through my mind, and what was important at the time... Aaron and I dated through February of my junior year - well over two years. He was at college, and when two people are that far away from each other, it is tough to keep a relationship going.

I have learned many a things since those naive days of high school relationships and social life. I can look back and see the lessons and realizations since then. The main thing I learned from dating Aaron is that I never wanted to date someone who loved fishing and hunting more than me. But you cannot tell those kinds of things to a high school student now. They essentially have to learn those lessons on their own. I see students blind to their situations. I want to help them. Oh to find a way without turning them away... 

"But like most things, after the truth upsets you, it has the potential to set you free."

How many times did my FFA advisor ask me why I was dating Aaron? How many times did he tell me I was too good for him? How many times did he said that if he were in high school again, I was the kind of girl he would date? (not in a creeper sort of way) He was right, but I did not want to see it then. But I don't regret the relationship.

Sure many high school students are doing the right things and experiencing harmless relationships that will teach them lessons for life. Other high school students are caught up in poorer, less than healthy situations. Until I have a better understanding of them, I am most likely not going to be able to reach them. This opportunity to reflect is helping me to be more aware of what a typical high school student really cares about. I needed that reminder. Their lives are being molded and shaped every day. And so is mine. Lord, help me to help them as much as you want me to.

How much PASSION do you have?

As I was walking down the hallway in C-Town today, I noticed the back of one of the athletic shirts. I think it was a football one. It said:

   Passion
   Passio'

To suffer

How much PASSION do you have?

I did not expect to find such a deep thought on the back of a football team t-shirt. Yet, if you think about, how cool is it what sports can instill in a person. To win takes discipline, practice, hard work, sacrifice - it takes some suffering. Do the students really think about a deeper meaning of the quote on the back of their shirts? Maybe not. Maybe. 

I also stumbled across this quote this evening:

"Teaching is not a profession, it is a passion." - Unknown

Hmm. So to win in teaching, to really make a difference in the lives of students is to suffer; hard work, long hours, discipline, practice, sacrifice. No wonder I get little me time and even less time to go spend with friends and family. But, it is the life I have chosen, and the life God has chosen for me. For the students, to help them become better people and productive members of society, for them I'm willing to suffer. I have PASSION for teaching.

Mother Teresa stated, "The most wasted gift is the gift of suffering." With the other two quotes in this blog, this quote takes on a bit of a different meaning for me than it has all year. Well, not so much a different meaning, but a new perspective towards the same meaning.  The thought that comes to my mind is, "How much are you willing to give?" Whether for a team or for a career, what are you willing to give? It's not so much counting the cost, but the willingness to freely give of yourself.

The FFA chapter t-shirts this year have the quote, "You make living by what you get. You make a life by what you give." (Winston Churchill). Too often we are concerned with what we are getting out of the deal or situation. Instead, we should focus on what we can give. Therefore, I ask, what are you giving your life to? How much PASSION do you have?

Any wonder why we call it Christ's PASSION? Aww-spiration.

"Death With A Purpose Gives Full Meaning to Life"

A big thanks to Trent Loos of LoosTales for sharing his message at the Southeast District FFA Greenhand Conference over a week ago. This particular quote caught my attention and spurred my thoughts to some deeper thinking. Of course, his message was geared towards agricultural practices that provide and use the food, fiber, and natural sources that make the world go round. More simple put, we've got to harvest the crops to feed to livestock (and people), and butcher the livestock to feed the world. There is a purpose to the death that occurs. 

My deeper thoughts go in the direction of faith, religion, and scripture, as well as how we live that out. John 12:24 goes like this:

"Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit."

I might be mistaken, but I'm certain that is a direct correlation to agriculture. Unless the seed, fruit, or plant dies - stops receiving or transporting nutrients from the soil and halts the process of converting sunlight to usable energy, called photosynthesis, the life cycle would never end, and never begin again. One plant or seed must die or order to produce more, to bear fruit. Agriculture is a cycle of life. Agriculture is also a vehicle by which we teach the cycle of life (another Trent Loos lesson from a time when he spoke at K-State...).

So it is with us. I don't mean in the literal sense (but I do), but rather in the spiritual sense. As we die to self, which could consist of discipline in exercising, diet, chores, homework, serving others, or whatever your fancy, we bear fruit for others. This semester I've opted not to have a tv in my living quarters. If there was one here, and I were spending time watching it, I know I would probably not be doing what I should be doing. I have students to teach, who need a student teacher that knows what she is doing (I'm learning...). Thus for my students, I don't watch tv. I do still get in a movie from time to time.

In 2009, I decided to give up chocolate. Yup. No chocolate for a whole year. I did really good, except for a couple of occasions. I started out doing this for myself - to build discipline. I figured if I could say no to something small, it would help me to say no to bigger things, including student involvement on campus. All in all, I did grow in the virtue of PRUDENCE. However, at some point in the year, I decided to add an intention or intentions to my giving up chocolate. As Catholics, we believe that we share in the sufferings of Christ when we willing chose to embrace the cross in our life. 

Colossians 1:24 "Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church, ..."

"Col. 1:24 - Paul rejoices in his sufferings and completes what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of His body. This proves the Catholic position regarding the efficacy of suffering. Is there something lacking in Christ's sufferings? Of course not. But because Jesus loves us so much, He allows us to participate in His redemptive suffering by leaving room in His mystical body for our own suffering. Our suffering, united with our Lord's suffering, furthers the work of His redemption."(www.scripturecatholic.com/suffering.html)

We, the Church, are the Body of Christ. We can suffer for one another (though without Christ, our suffering is incomplete). Christ was crucified before He rose from the death. The grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies before rising again and producing new wheat, or fruit. I rejoice in my sufferings (I try, I really do) for the good of the whole Catholic Church throughout the world, and the good of all humanity. What an aww-esome gift God gave to us - the gift of suffering. Next time you say no (to selfishness=death), say yes to offering it up for someone (love=purpose). God Bless!