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.