Get in control

Steve Siebold is the author of Mental Toughness, and gives pretty good advice on what it takes to be successful. In a recent email, he talked about focusing on the things we can control and not wasting time worrying about those things we can't. This particular message centered on getting fit and thus having the energy for opportunities when they arise. Too often, it seems, we worry about things outside our control and don't focus our energies on getting better in the areas we have under our control. It reminds me of the Serenity Prayer:

God grant me the serenity

to accept the things I cannot change;

courage to change the things I can;

and wisdom to know the difference.

Passion-based learning

Here is an interview about passion-based learning. Quite similar to finding student interests and helping spark a fire for learning in each student.

Graduation and Bob Dylan

As graduation gets closer here at Guernsey-Sunrise and is happening across the country this month and next, I am drawn to items that tie into that theme. Of course, so many of the lessons we would like graduates to learn and take with them are lessons we all can be reminded of from time to time.

This one comes from an article on Bob Dylan. I find it interesting as I am a big fan of his and used to write Christmas letters with musical themes in the past, one of which had one of his songs embedded. I've gotten away from some of those things, but this article and some of the thoughts in it bring me back to thinking about how it relates to success.

In the article, the author writes about Dylan "owning the room." In it, he emphasizes that "owning the room isn't about being larger than life - it's about making the room larger by injecting it with life." Dylan certainly did that and the one point that was made, he seemed to do better than most. That was point 6 - daring to "live by a different script." We all have our own way of seeing the world and must strive to not let the world take away our authentic self. If graduates, and all of us for that matter, can work to make their own unique voice heard and their talents surface, the world would be better off for the effort.

Continuous learning

One of the nice things about having "Learner" as a strength is the ability to come away with something from just about every conversation, meeting, or experience. Attending last night's GS athletic banquet, I was struck by something coach Glenn Freeburg said about his track athletes - their goal was to improve their times every meet. As I thought about that this morning, I had a thought that continuous improvement should be the goal in everything we do. This is true for track athletes, in our relationships, in our job, and in everything we put an effort into doing. As our graduates prepare to leave high school, beginning with commencement on Sunday, that is one message I hope they hear. Continue working hard to get better and continuously look for ways to improve whatever it is they decide to do. While there will certainly be setbacks along the way, thinking that way will certainly make for success in many areas.

Listen to the Music

I watched the movie August Rush this weekend and thought a quote I heard from the movie lent itself to school and education particularly well. August/Evan says "The music is all around us, all you have to do is listen." The reason this struck me is that as educators, we are trying to help students gain the skills to listen and hear the music that is inside them. Each of us is unique and has our own "music" that often whispers to us to become great. Choosing a path is not always easy, but if we can teach students to listen to that oft-silenced voice, we can help them find their talents and follow a path that takes full advantage of those talents.

Wayne Dyer is credited with saying "Don't die with your music still inside you." Helping students (and others) to carefully listen for their music can certainly make sure they don't succumb to such an ending.

Speaking of music - Guernsey-Sunrise music students will perform Tuesday, May 17 (JH/HS) and Tuesday, May 24 (Elementary). For many of these talented students, music is their "music."