Champions
A champion is someone who gets up when he can't.
I am just so stinking proud of these superheroes with whom I work. Some of them are taking it all in stride, but many of them are so tightly clenched that it makes me think of Ferris Bueller’s quote about Cameron…you know…the one about in two weeks you’ll have a diamond. Despite the fear, trepidation, personal risk to themselves and their families, they keep coming back, and this is inspirational to me.
It takes a special kind of crazy to be a teacher…a passion…a madness. I am not a particular fan of boxing (though having pugilist skills would be nice), but I can see the parallel between stepping into the ring and stepping into the classroom. We know there are going to be blows upon us when we do. Instead of fists we feel the blows of the student who is struggling because of things at home…the student who is not thriving in the online environment…the assessments that worked in person, but have to be redone for virtual…the expectations and more expectations from up the chain…we get distracted and sometimes lose focus because of the worries about our own families…we worry about making mistakes and somehow letting these kids down.
They may be wall-eyed right now because of all of It…but when it’s done and we are on the other side, I will remember today and I will tell them so that they will know what kind of Champions they are.
