A Moment of Reflection

As I returned to the office after a much-needed summer break, ready to embark on my 18th year in education and third year of administration, I felt a mixture of excitement and nostalgia. I parked my car, sorted out my school ID from the depths of my car console, unpacked items I had brought home for safekeeping and reading, grabbed my extra large 7-11 coffee and headed towards the administration building door. Amid the hustle and bustle, a simple walk from my car to the building door became a moment of reflection. “Boy that went fast, I thought to myself.” 

During that walk, I found myself pondering the advice I often offer others: to disconnect from work for a while. I used that time to reconnect with friends, travel, and most importantly be fully present for my kids; I took them to camp, their basketball and baseball games, watched every play of every quarter and inning, and carefully studied each interaction they had with their friends on the sidelines and in the dugout. 

Unwrapping Memories

In the midst of doing that, I interrupted myself while intently staring at my 14-year old son Drew. It suddenly dawned on me that I have 4 years left with him. 4 years. He’s going into high school this year. In that moment of sadness, my mind memory box took me back to the time I struggled to open the door to a local pizzeria while carrying him in his infant car seat. I can still feel my stomach growling while sweat was pouring down my brow in the heat of summer. Between the infant carrier, diaper bag, and all the other new mom baby paraphernalia I carried, I used my leg to push the door open. I was desperately trying to squeeze through the small opening I created for myself while holding everything I packed and was certain I needed for this trip. I still remember the question I asked myself. Will the simple things always be this hard? For goodness sakes, I was hungry and only going to grab a slice of pizza my tired new Mom belly desperately craved! While navigating my door struggles, I felt an unexpected sense of relief. Suddenly, the door that was only cracked open by my leg was open much wider and my hands that were full a few seconds before, were available.

“I’ve got you,” an unfamiliar voice said into my ear. I turned around to see a short, brown haired woman holding my fully packed diaper bag and some other items that freed up my hands. Before I could open my mouth to say thank you, she said. “I’ve been there. Just take the help when you can and enjoy the ride. It’s going to go fast.” My grateful face smiled, and profusely thanked this angel of a stranger for the much needed help. Simultaneously, I’ll admit that I’d heard her cliché advice before and gave her an internal eye roll as I was feeling sleep deprived and wrapped up in my own new Mom bubble. I couldn’t imagine anything “going fast” at that moment in time.

Connecting Past Advice to the Present

Then, the sound of the baseball popping off my son’s swing of the bat brought me back to the present. Here I was, snapped out of my memory daze, watching my teenage son crush the baseball while thinking about the stranger’s advice fourteen years ago, “Just take the help and enjoy the ride. It’s going to go fast.” In the blink of an eye, my little one had grown into a young man stepping confidently into his own journey.

Life, in all its beauty and complexity, throws simple things that often feel hard. Yet, learning to accept help and leaning on the kindness of others can transform those moments into something more manageable. This week, I facilitated a session at New Teacher Orientation. To me, it’s always important to impart the same message to our new teachers, setting them on a path to long meaningful careers. Here are a few of the many sentiments I shared that day, “Use the people around you for support. We can’t be experts at everything. We all have expertise to share and together we are better. Ask for help, take the help. Let your colleagues hold the door for you, support you in making your lessons better, ask your students how YOU can be better for them.”

It gives me great joy to witness the sense of relief in the faces of the new teachers who are feeling that overwhelmed feeling we have all felt as whether we are a new mother, a new teacher, a new administrator, or the parent who starts feeling that sense of their child slipping away to adulthood. I’ll admit, every new year I have embarked on for the last eighteen years has initiated that overwhelming feeling, making what could be a simple thing feel hard. In the book Big Potential by Shawn Achor, he shares, “…by becoming a positive nod in your workplace, company, or community, and helping those around you improve their creativity, their productivity, their abilities, their performance, and more, you are not only helping the group become better; you are exponentially increasing your own potential for success.” He goes on to share, “The people who rise to the top are not those who try to do everything all by themselves but rather those who can ask others for help and rally others to grow.”

Moving Forward

As I finally reached the administration building’s door, pondering how to retrieve my key fob, a familiar voice whispered, “I’ve got you.” A reminder that in the midst of life’s simple struggles, there’s often a helping hand waiting to guide us through. Just as I’ve shared with new teachers, let’s remember to ask for help, embrace the support of others, and cherish the ride as it unfolds before us.

As you prepare to step into a new school year, take a moment to consider: 

How can your experiences from this summer, whether it’s reconnecting with loved ones or facing unexpected challenges, shape your approach to the upcoming year?

Three actionable ideas to take with you as you embark on a new school year:

Three actionable ideas to take with you as you embark on a new school year: 1. Disconnect and Reconnect: Take a lesson from your summer break and make a conscious effort to disconnect from work-related concerns for a while. Use this time to reconnect with friends, family, and personal interests. Disconnecting can provide you with the rejuvenation you need to approach your teaching role with fresh energy and perspective. 2. Embrace Support: Just as you experienced a stranger’s unexpected help during a challenging moment, be open to accepting assistance when offered. Recognize that you’re not alone in your journey and that leaning on the kindness of others can lighten the load. Create a supportive network within your school community and collaborate with colleagues to enhance your teaching approach. 3. Seek Collaboration: Approach the new school year with a mindset of collaboration and growth. Recognize that you don’t have to be an expert in everything. Engage with your colleagues, share your expertise, and tap into their knowledge and experience. Collaborative efforts not only benefit students but also empower you to reach your full potential as an educator.