Frontier

As I'm coming to the end of my student teaching experience, part of me is really nervous about teaching full-time. Who's to say that I am qualified to teach the youth of America? I certainly don't have all the answers! And yet, it's ok to not have all the answers. I think part of the reason I like this quote from Neil deGrasse Tyson so much is because as applicable as it is to science, it's even more applicable to teaching.
So much of the time, we (myself included) like to pretend that we know everything, that we are the foremost expert. Oftentimes in teaching, admitting that we don't know something is the difference between success and failure in the classroom. Are you successful? If so, I'm willing to bet that you ask lots of questions and never really settle for what you already know. Don't be ignorant, don't look for failure. Ask questions, look for success. Don't be afraid to admit that you don't know it all.

Salad

Although Ron Swanson adamantly claims that salad is rabbit food, I'd like to make another comparison. I've always thought of salad as a good break from the meath and potatoes of a meal. It's that moment to give your taste buds something different, something lighter. At least that's what my stomach always thinks, after eating a salad, I go right back to the meat and potatoes.

In life, I find those nice breaks to be the salad. For students and some teachers, that moment is in the summer. For many others, the salad is a vacation in the middle of the year. What is your salad? What are those respites, those moments where you step away from the meat and potatoes of a career to enjoy the lighter side of life? For me, those moments are time spent with my family and loved ones. Or a good fishing trip. Whatever you salad is, hold dear to it. Always keep it in mind those moments when things just seem to be going wrong. Just as in tricking a stomach during a meal, taking a short break will ultimately bring you more success. What is your salad?

Intelligence

At some level, intelligence is simply a measure of how someone communicates his or her message. To be sure, there are some people who are truly intelligent, and some that are simply good at 'smart talk', but the ability to communicate ones message is key.
I have one student in particular that struggles with this communication piece. He is very intelligent, but he often struggles with the communication piece. Sometimes it takes him so long to piece a question together that by the time he's done I've forgotten what exactly he's asking in the first place. In truth, I feel kind of bad for him.
Are you intelligent? Better yet, are people able to tell that you are intelligent? Beyond the high school level, I'm betting that level of perceived intelligence rests largely on your ability to communicate. Even as a college student, I've caught myself thinking, "What a goon" as a classmate stumbles through a presentation or an answer. Now I'm not saying that this is right or even accurate. However, it is imperative that you hone your communication. Without it, you could be that goon.

Debate

I love Amy Poehler. Ever since my wonderful girlfriend introduced me to Parks and Recreation, I've been very impressed by Poehler and her character, Leslie Knope. And although they both make mistakes, in the end they are able to work out differences, change minds and make a difference.

The other day I held a debate in one of my classes. I let the students pick the topic, which ended up being the use of cell phones in class. Surprisingly, there were very strong feelings on both sides of the issue. As the debate went on, I was impressed by one students ability to meet every emotional debate with a calm, cool and collected response. Needless to say, this student and his team had my vote.
So many students (and adults) can't seem to understand this concept of respectful disagreement. Can you articulate your belief without insults? If so, can you change minds? Today on the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities campus, the 5th Annual Ag Awareness Day was held to spread the message of agriculture. Friends, students and agriculturalists - were you able to make a difference?

Doubt

I suppose today's Thought was more a product of what I was feeling when I woke up this morning than anything else. Today I had a rather significant event happen: I accepted a position teaching agriculture at Cedar Mountain High School. As I woke up this morning I just had this feeling of knowing that my future is taking shape, that my future is back.

However, throughout the day, I kept getting more and more nervous. What am I getting myself into? What if I mess up? What if I'm a terrible teacher? What is my future? All those little doubts that constantly bug me kept hitting me.
What is your future? If you don't know, that's ok. Everyone has those doubts. Everyone needs time to figure these things out. However, when you do figure it out, when you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that this is what your future is meant to be, go for it! Don't sit by and watch it float on by. Yes, pay attention to your doubts, they keep you sharp, but don't be paralyzed by them. Take action. Go for your goals. Is your future back?

Word

Today's Thought is one of those wonderful bits of biting wisdom from Tyrion Lannister of Game of Thrones. Whenever he gets in trouble or whenever he needs a favor done, he always pulls out this line: "Everyone knows a Lannister always pays his debts". Despite the fact that he rarely ends up paying these debts, there nonetheless is a bit of wisdom within these words.

How good is your word? Are you like Tyrion, promising to pay off your debts, then turning tail and ignoring the debt? Or do you take those words to heart, stake your reputation to them and live by them every day? I must confess that currently I am in the midst of a big life decision. Without giving out specifics, I will tell you that it is one of those moments that I wonder just how much my word is worth.

I think everyone wants his or her word to carry a lot of weight. And yet, that weight takes a lot of effort and hard work to cultivate and raise. However, the rewards are worth it. If only from a personal, philosophical perspective, they are worth it. Take your words to heart. Hold them close. If you aren't good for your word, how good are you? How good is your word?

Write

I'm a little surprised that this is my first Thought from Mythbusters. After all, what better source of inspiration for a teacher than a show that dispels common misconceptions? However, it wasn't until halfway through the day that I truly got to understand the implications of this slight but significant difference between science and screwing around.

In one class, we have studying electrical wiring. The last few days have been very exciting as it's the last days of boring theory work in the classroom before we transitioned to working in the shop on actual circuits today. Each group of students is required to wired certain configurations and a good chunk of the class time was spent drawing these schematics out. Lo and behold, there's always that group that somehow never wrote things down. In that moment, it truly struck me. Because they didn't 'write it down' they were simply screwing around instead of doing something awesome.
Do you write it down? Don't get caught in that slight, but significant difference. Be prepared. Write it down. Are you just screwing around or are you making great things happening?

Losing

Today's Thought is one of those jewels associated with the whimsical philosophy of fishing. I suppose I'm biased, being an avid fisherman myself, but I kind of like these Thoughts. Today's is especially relevant, considering the latest adventures in my student teaching experience.

Lately there seems to be a rash of unnecessary comparisons going on in my class, mostly centered around grades. My message in response: Don't compare to someone else, compete with yourself. In school, there really is no way to lose (if you're doing it right). Either you 'catch' a good grade, or you 'learn' what do to differently next time. In reality, you can only lose by focusing on these comparisons.

Are you losing? If so, let go of those comparisons. Really, the only person you are competing with is yourself. If you are constantly learning and improving, there is no way to lose. You either 'catch' or you 'learn'. Are you losing or are you winning?

Attack

I suppose it's high time I get back on here, it feels like this Thought has been posted on my door for a week. I suppose this wonderful weather outside was just what the doctor ordered. Despite the melting snow piles outside my window, I just feel like getting down to business and really attacking what I need to do.

What are you attacking? I think there's always something out there that we should be focused on, looking to beat. Whether it's a political opponent as in the case of Leslie Knope or simply my lesson planning, there's always something tugging at us. Whether we know it or not, there's always something that we should be attacking. In this spring season, think about what you need to do. Think about your attack plan. What are you attacking?

Impossible

I think of all sports, nothing has captured the amazement and wonder quite like baseball. Every year, the impossible seems to happen. You can't predict baseball. As a Minnesota Twins fan, one of my earliest baseball memories was watching Torii Hunter rob Barry Bonds of a home run in the All Star Game. From that moment on, I was hooked. While the sport is so much more than impossible spider-man leaps at the wall, this heart-stopping moments are what keeps fans like me going.

What is your impossible? I think as baseball shows, very few things are truly impossible. There's always those heart-stopping moments that seem to stretch the imagination. No matter what arena those moments are in, cherish them. Heck, I still have all the newspaper clippings from when Johan Santana struck out 17 in a game. I was there. I saw it happen. Cherish those 'impossible' moments.

Grope

To be completely honest, I'm a little surprised that none of my students have said anything about this Thought posted on my door. What high schooler wouldn't have to take a second look at this poster? That being said, I did pick out this Thought with a purpose.

I think what separates those who experiment with careers and go somewhere with it from those who simply jump around from job to job, is the idea of objectives. In recent weeks, I've been really struggling with what I want to do with the rest of my life. In all honesty, I have no clue what I want to do. That being said, I do have objectives. I know what I want to be involved with throughout my life. I know that throughout my career, I want to do something that will allow me to be involved in education, agriculture and intrapreneurialism. Now, it's just a matter of finding something that I can practice and hone each one of those.

It's ok to not know what you want to do. Before you can know what you want to do, you need to know what you want to be involved with. What are your objectives? What are those things that are ground-zero, basement level characteristics that HAVE to be in your life? Find them. Find your objectives. The rest will come easy. Explore, sure. But don't grope. Explore with objectives.

Fleas

What company do you keep? I think we've all posed that question, either to ourselves or to others. While I've never heard the quote in today's Thought, I must say it all ties together.

This issue of surrounding ourselves with quality people is one that far too few people pay attention to, yet something we all should be doing at all times. If not only for our own happiness, for our professional and personal success. If we continually lay with dogs, those who simply aren't the kind of people we want to be, what can we expect to become? If not a dog ourselves, we will be constantly harassed by the 'fleas' that these dogs bring.
I think we all have those people in our lives who just seem to suck the life out of things. Whether they are the classic "Debbie Downer" or simply someone who never seems to get the work done, this person must go. What company do you keep?

Experience

Today's Thought was one that I found just when I was searching most for why I wanted to teach. It seems only fitting then that I write about it as I'm questioning my own ability to teach. I think part of my frustration is simply not having that experience.

As I've gone through my formal schooling, one thing has become painfully obvious: it is extremely hard to provide any continuity in the classroom. I really like this picture because at times it seems like you are simply putting down random dots whenever you learn something in the classroom. It's not until you truly get some experience that you connect those dots.
What is your experience? While random knowledge is good, a web of connected understanding is much better. Yes, school is great, but we can't be afraid to get out there, make mistakes and get some experience. One thing that I have a hard time remembering is that the web doesn't form overnight. It takes years of practice to truly get an airtight, true education. What is your experience? If it isn't much, get out there, get some experience. Connect the dots.

Why

Wow. Looking back, it has been quite a while since I've last posted here. I think I was just waiting for the perfect story to go along with this wonderful Thought.

Today I had the first day of teaching my 8th graders. Let me just say it is going to be a fun challenge, they are so full of energy! However, I will say they are always questioning. Even on a boring topic of silk worms, they kept asking why it happens like it does. While it's super frustrating not being able to answer their questions, I couldn't be more happy that they kept asking them.
This whole issue of asking 'why' is not a new one. In so many cases, we can learn so much more just by asking that little three letter word. Have you asked 'why?' today? Don't be afraid of going down the rabbit hole, while tangents will abound by asking why, I find that they are often very good learning opportunities. Who knows what you'll learn!

Tool

While I originally posted this Thought last week, I think I just now came up with a  good application.

Today I had the wonderful opportunity to take part in some regional staff development with other agriculture teachers in the area. In essence, it was a great big exchange of ideas where we all had a chance to get together and share what works for us.
It was during this exchange that it hit me that all we were doing was exchanging tools. Just as every student isn't the same, if we only have one tool, we expect that same thing to work for all. What are your tools? Do you have one way to do things and that's that? Just like a teacher must have multiple methods to teach students, each and every one of us must have multiple ways of getting stuff done .

Filter

Part of the challenge this spring has been filtering the type of Thoughts that I've posted. Since beginning to post the pictures on my office door at school, I'd like to post things that have some relevance to my students. That being said, I've found that I really miss these type of teacher-y Thoughts.
One of the things that really made me want to be a teacher was the fact that not only am I able to help others learn, but I am also able to learn throughout the day. When I think about my day, all of these actions are things that I do. Yes, every day is different. But somehow, all these things end up happening.
No matter how much we filter what we say and what we post, our true actions always seem to shine through. What do you filter? Do you filter your thoughts, actions and words? Without a doubt, there are certain places where you must filter yourself. Social media, the workplace and school being three of them. That being said, those in-born characteristics will always shine through. Don't lose sight of what you do. Filter sure, but never lose sight.

Armor

For all of my Game of Thrones fans out there, I suspect this Thought from this particular character will ring true. Tyrion Lannister, for all his drunkenness, manages to quite eloquently speak. He's one of those people who when he says something, you should probably listen.

Today, is a special anniversary for me, for a couple reasons. First, it is the unfortunate anniversary of my oldest sisters death. To be sure, this event has shaped me in innumerable ways, ways that I am still discovering today. On a happier note, today marks six months since my amazing girlfriend and I have been dating. Although we aren't able to be together today (she is currently studying abroad in Istanbul), I can say that she has seamlessly become part of 'what I am'.
What are you? Naturally, your past has a large impact on who and what you are. Just like my sisters death continues to impact me all these years later, you too have those events that have immeasurable impact. But, only looking back is no way to live your life. We must continue looking forward to find out what we are. When Ash decided to study abroad, we figured that if we could get through the semester of being apart like this, we could make it through pretty much anything. God willing, we will get through the final ten weeks and faithfully and joyfully be reunited.
So again I ask, What are you? Take your past experiences and your future dreams. NEVER forget what you are. NEVER be afraid to show off not only the unpleasant parts of you but also the joyful. Find out what you are. Wear it like armor and it can never be used to hurt you.

Crop

Lately in southwestern Minnesota it's been a hard winter. This week I realized that in my three weeks of student teaching, I have yet to teach for a 'full' week. Well, enough of that. I've been holding this Thought for quite a while, maybe now that I'm releasing it we can get rid of all this snow.

I think the worst part of all this snow, is just the depressing atmosphere it gives in the depths of winter. This is March, not January. We should be warming up, getting happier. Instead, we're getting more cold and more snow! And yet, that tiny sliver of hope is there. The hope of a new crop, corn will be in the ground in less than 3 months!

So much of the time we get caught up in all those things that just bring us down. Instead we should be focusing on our hope. What is your hope? Find it and cherish it from here on out. Don't let the winter in March get you. Keep your eye on the prize, the crop in May.

Pass

I suppose I should start out by apologizing. Life has gotten incredibly busy these last few days. I don't know how many more times I'll be able to post a Thought on here, but I will do my very best to keep it updated.

In life, we all go through those challenging times, we all go through those times with not enough hours in the day. And even though they seem endless, at some point they will pass. Just as good things never last, neither do the challenging things.

What will pass? Perhaps you are like me, in the midst of a busy time in your life, that just seems to keep throwing curveballs at you. Or, maybe you're in a happy time, a time where nothing seems to go wrong. No matter, just know that this too shall pass.

History

I think at some point everyone has asked the question of how history will remember them. Today's Thought from Calvin and Hobbes offers a good look at how I think many of those questions become answered. I know even while writing this blog I have had those thoughts of how will history think of me for writing it. How will history remember? I don't think any of use can truly answer that question.

That being said, history will never remember us the way we'd like. We will never be remembered for frivolous things that we attempt to do to be remembered by. Rather, history will remember us for the things that we never set out to do. Those things that end up changing the world and yet that we never originally intended to do. Don't be so concerned with how you want to be remembered. Be concerned with how you are living right now, history will take care of the rest.

Thinking

For those of you who follow me on Facebook and Twitter may have noticed my status updates following school yesterday. In short, it was a bit of a rough day for me. However, the more I thought about it, it really wasn't all that bad. Perhaps the thing that had the most effect on my attitude was my thoughts about my own actions.

Upon reflection, I noticed that my attitude and thought process changed dramatically yesterday based on one relatively insignificant event. No doubt these small events will happen again and I must take action to train my mind to not get down on them.
What is your thinking? So much of the time things happen relatively the same, albeit with minor variations. For instance, yesterday was just another day at school. Sure, there was a two hour delay, but school is school. There's nothing inherently good or bad about these situations, but our mind makes them good or bad depending on our thinking. What is your thinking?

Treat

I must confess, I posted this Thought on my door on Friday, but I am just getting to writing about it now. It's interesting (and a little exciting) that my cooperating teacher, a thirty year veteran, commented on my Thoughts. I suppose I must be making a good impression? I suppose this weekend has given me some extra time to think of what I want to write, so I do apologize if I am a little long-winded today.

I think so much of the time as agriculture teachers we get so busy in our students and our work (which doesn't often seem like 'work'). I think I've been at school from 7am to at least 4pm every night in the last week. So many of us forget to take some time and treat ourselves. While it's fantastic to be involved in such a wonderful career field (I will be at school serving breakfast to other teachers at 6:30am tomorrow!) we all need to make sure that we are treated first.

How will you 'treat yo self'? I know my girlfriend for one will have a few suggestions on this one. Even though she's halfway around the world in Rome, I think she's getting the feeling of just how busy I am. Whether it's perfume, fragrances, mimosas or even a batman suit, we all need to take time to treat ourselves. If we can't take care of ourselves, how can we hope to take care of anyone else? How will you 'treat yo self'?

Same

Yesterday I wrote about how you can change your place, how change is inevitable. I thought it neatly dovetailed into today's Thought. Back on New Years Day, I found this picture and thought about the accuracy of it's message.

Despite all of our resolutions, promises and fanfare, 2014 is eerily the same as 2013. It's the same earth, same people, same day to day routine. But what about this change thing? Are you the same?

As I've alluded to, lack of change means stagnation. Change, although inevitable, must be purposeful if we are to make any headway toward our goals. Although things may seem the same, change is (and should be) happening behind the scenes, often in subtle, yet far-reaching ways. Move with purpose. Do the little things with the authority that comes from knowing the implications of your actions. Are you the same? I hope not.

Place

Yesterday I was able to sit in on one of my cooperating teachers class where the topic of the day was organization. She posed the question : what does it mean to be organized? Granted, this was to a group of seventh graders, so you can imagine the answers to the question. However, one student (rather unexpectedly) repeated today's Thought as a definition for being organized.

What is your place? I firmly believe that each and every one of us has a place in this world. I received a good reminder of this from that class of 7th graders. The funny thing is, I don't think any of us truly know if we are in our place. We are just running around in this world hoping we are doing the right thing.

In the end, our places, just like any good organizational system, constantly changes. Your current place will most certainly not be the same in a year from now. Looking back, I can't believe the changes that have happened in my own life in the last year. Yes, some of them are bitter, but the sweet changes more than make up. What is your place?

Cold

I'm officially declaring it that time of the winter. The time where you don't care what happens, it's just been so cold for so long that you're ready for it all to be done. I think everyone has a natural tendency to get a little grumpy. However, some people deal with it better than others. Some even end up being happy. How do they do it?
I think the winter doldrums really challenge us and our ability to adapt and accept our situations. Think about it, there are these situations where we just have to gut it out and survive. How will you adapt?

Doing

Today is the day. The day I begin the final chapter in my collegiate career as a student teacher at Mountain Lake Schools. Now, my task is taking all the knowledge that I have learned in the last 22 years of my life and somehow teach high school and middle school students.

As a student I found most things quite easy. It was my attitude that I could learn anything with enough effort and practice. And for the most part it was true. The knowing, understanding how something works was not that hard. However, when asked to do something, when asked to teach, I've found much  more struggle.
How hard is the doing? According to my experience, pretty gosh darn hard. However, that doesn't mean it's not worthwhile. It's good to know, but being able to apply that knowledge to an action is a whole other level. How hard is the doing? Pretty dang hard. Is it worth it? Absolutely.

Training

I must confess that I've never seen this saying before. I've always heard of people 'rising to the occasion', but I've never really thought about what that means. The more I have thought about it, this saying gets to the point much better.

As I've been going through this teacher prep period, spending six hours a day, about the only thing that keeps me going is knowing that I am being given some of the best training possible to be a teacher. Going forward, it will not be some unknowable force within me that will allow me to complete my duties and dreams, it will be the training that I have received. I won't 'rise' to any situation, I'll sink to the level of my training.

What is your level of training? When really pressed, how low will you sink? I don't think it's particularly a bad thing to sink to the level of training, it's just a different way to think about it. What will you sink to?

Swans

Today's Thought is a rather fancy looking way to sum up the last four years of my life. While I found it on an educational page I follow on Facebook, I hardly took it to mean strictly formal, classroom learning.

As some of you may know, tonight I am giving my Swan Song, a symbolic final speech for members as they move to alumni status in my fraternity. If you wish to hear the speech, I will be recording it and posting it somewhere on these inter-webs.
As I think back on the last 3-4 years I am simply astounded. I've made and lost friends, I've joined the best group of gentlemen I've ever had the pleasure to be associated with, I've pursued my dream of teaching, I've lived half-way across the country, I've met the woman whom I'm pretty sure will be my future wife, I've had experiences beyond my wildest dreams. Talk about a big mess.
You see, I don't think I'm at college so much to get a degree in a given career field, as much to get a complete education in life. As an educator, I don't teach agriculture, I teach students. Learning is messy. People get hurt but people are strong. We bounce back to leave legacy's beyond our wildest dreams. Sorry about the mess for the last four years, but I've been learning.

What is your swan song? If you had the chance to tell the world anything for one night, what would you say? Would talk about how you've developed and learned as a person? Would you talk about the messes in your life? I think so much of the time we don't think about these messy experiences as times of learning. However, messes are the ONLY time we are truly learning.

Hunger

I think we've all had those experiences that we dread, yet know the necessity of. For instance, I am currently in the midst of the three week period in the 'dungeon' before being released into the world of student teaching. I don't know about you, but six hours in the same room really doesn't appeal to me. However, I'm still going to subject myself to this three week, six hour block of instruction if only because I am hungry to be a teacher.

Are you hungry? Maybe you have an intense desire to prove yourself. Maybe like the man in this picture, you are just thankful to have some baked beans in the middle of winter.

No matter what you are hungry for, I'm betting that you had to go through some tough times, a crucible of sorts, to get to that moment of satiety. It's that hunger, that desire to see what's on the other side that keeps you going even in the toughest of times.

Battle

This morning I wasn't sure why I picked this image as today's Thought, but as the day progressed, I think it slowly became clearer. As many of you know, my wonderful girlfriend is studying abroad this semester, exploring the architecture of Rome and Istanbul. When we made the decision that she should study abroad, it was all rather quick. Heck, from finding out about the opportunity to filing all the paperwork, barely 24 hours had elapsed. So I suppose it's no shock that it hasn't really sunk in what this all actually means until this week.

Without a doubt, it's a battle without her here by my side, and I'm sure she would say the same. And yet despite all the tough times, the times when I just want her to fly home, I can't help but be excited and super proud of her, despite myself. You see I can't help but know that no matter what, she will return home to me, perhaps changed, but at heart still the same person I fell in love with scarcely five months ago.
What is your battle? I think that so many young people expect things to be easy. Going into this experience, my girlfriend and I knew it wasn't going to be easy. We knew there would be days we just want to give up. But we resolved to never seek to battle with the other. Life is hard enough, if we can't face it together, should we even be together? Instead of battling each other, we are together battling the rest of the world. Take this to heart folks, what is your battle? Are you, as many have said, fighting the good fight? Be kind, for every man (and woman) is fighting a hard battle.

Intense

Today's Thought is one that I've had floating around for a while, and yet I've never found a good way to present it nor discuss it. I think so much of the time we hear that people expect us to give 110% to any given activity or task. Without resorting to terms that Ron Swanson uses, I would tend to agree, it's silly to expect this kind of commitment.

As an agriculture teacher one of the biggest concerns that I have is becoming too committed to my work and burning out of a career that I love. It is important to remember that the intensity of which I pursue something, especially a career, must be carefully monitored.

Have you gone 110%? It usually doesn't work out too well. Find those things that keep you grounded. Find some hobbies. I'm the worst offender, sometimes I get so engrossed in something that I forget to eat. Truth be told, that level of intensity is never healthy. Don't give 110%. Give 100%. That's all you have.

Knope

My latest TV show hit has been the wonderful Parks and Recreation set in Pawnee, Indiana. This show chronicles the adventures of Leslie Knope, an at-times over-eager political leader who simply wants to do the right thing, going to great lengths to do just so. Throughout the show she is widely acclaimed as being the best at what she does.

What do you do? Are you a student? Teacher? Worker? No matter what it is you do, strive for excellence. Are you the Leslie Knope?
Teddy Roosevelt once said something to the effect that the best thing anyone can do is the right thing, the second best thing anyone can do is the wrong thing and the worst thing you can do is nothing. All Leslie Knope wants to do is what is best for her beloved city of Pawnee. Even though at times this zealousness gets her in trouble, she never loses sight of what is important. Whatever it is you do, do it with excellence and a keen eye to what is right. Do this, and you can't go wrong.

America

Ignoring the fantastic undertones of today's Thought, I think this phrase hits on an important mindset that has shaped all of us. When you think of the American Dream, a likely image is that of a poor immigrant who came to this country and made it big by working hard, being honest and always doing his or her best. Stereotypes aside, this image is very powerful.

This imagery (and phrase) tell us that what makes us unique is the fact that we believe if you work hard, play square with those around you, you should get some pretty good returns. If you sow goodness, you should reap goodness.

I think there's always going to be times when no matter what you do, it's just going to be thrown in your face, but on the whole I believe that this vision of the American Dream holds true. I don't think any of us would be where we are if we didn't wholeheartedly (implicitly) believe this statement. What will you sow?

Oaks

Today's Thought was born through the idea of spending the first three weeks of my semester in what is know (not so) affectionately as "The Dungeon". As I am taking the steps toward becoming a teacher, I can't help but notice how each day, each hour, is a small stroke toward felling the great oak of my student teaching experience. Each day, alone not much, adds up toward a larger goal.

What is your oak? Maybe like me, you are tantalizingly close to finishing a project, degree or licensure that you've been working on for some time. Or perhaps you are on the other end of the spectrum, just starting on your journey of a thousand miles.  I think the reason that so many people give up on their oaks is that they can't see the end goal, they don't care any less, they just lose focus of what they are trying to do.  The key is always giving yourself something to remember, something to say, "I did this today". While your oak may not be a towering tree, take the daily step to remember what you are working for and what you accomplished today.

Blindside

The seed for today's Thought was planted in the heat of battle. Here I was, feeling very overwhelmed by the sheer amount of work to be done. Even worse, this workload wasn't anticipated. I was blindsided. I think this comic from Calvin and Hobbes shows the issue of a blindside in a quite humorous manner. I think so many times I get in the mindset that I am invincible. I know everything that's going on, I know exactly what's coming my way and I am prepared to annihilate that task. Sometimes though, the Hobbes' of my life come in and show me that I am completely unprepared.

What is your blindside? What are we to do when we get totally overwhelmed, totally blindsided by life? I think a large part of life is learning to take all the curveballs and roll with them. I for one, have much work to do on this. Instead of hiding in my 'impenetrable' snow fort, I must make more of an effort to roll with the punches and truly be ready for anything.

Building

Today's Thought is one of those that I've been putting off for quite some time. Today marks a few different things. Not only is it the last 'first' day of my undergrad career, it is also the first day I step into the role of teacher. Thinking back over the years that have led to this moment, I can't help but see how things have built upon each other.

My Rome, has hardly been built in a day. Things worth having, important things, tough things - they take time. Even today, I'm drawing on things that I learned in my first teaching experience back in my high school chemistry class.

What is your Rome? Perhaps like me, it's a career and a way of life that you have cultivated over years and years of experience.  No matter what your 'Rome' is, just remember that something worth having takes time.