Wednesday, January 6, 2010

January 6th


Seventh graders are interesting creatures. I should know...I spend all day with them. Thirty-six of them! Quite often I wonder who the real teacher in the room is. After school today, Taylor came up to me and said, "Look, Miss McMillan, it's a four-leaf clover!!" My ridiculously negative response: "It's torn." And this incredibly wise young lady responded with, "I don't care. Take a picture!"

So today's positive moment stems from today's most negative moment. How many conversations have I had with seventh graders about the importance of being accepting of all people no matter what was on the outside. True beauty lies within. Don't judge a book by its cover.

It's torn.

It's not perfect.

It's not photo-worthy.

How ridiculous! Of course it was perfect...to Taylor. And it most definitely became photo-worthy...to Taylor...and to me! I mean, look at that photograph! Isn't it a cool shot!! It made Taylor happy and it makes me happy to look at it.

So, what did the teacher learn today? I learned that my pessimistic, glass is half-empty, view of the world is deeply ingrained in me. I learned that learning to be optimistic, to think positively, might be a longer and harder journey than I had originally thought. I learned that we can find teachers wherever we go in life, including our own classrooms.

I learned I have so very much to learn.

4 comments:

  1. Terrific post. Thank you (and Taylor as well) for that reminder!

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  2. This is a great story. It's so refreshing. Just this evening, I watched What is Happiness?. Thanks!

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  3. Both you and Taylor "Get it"...
    Love the picture and the story.

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  4. You rock! I wish we could all be as open to these learning moments. Thank you so much for sharing. The picture is wonderful!

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