#75 Who us?

What a unique opportunity I have to work with such amazing kids!  Calling them kids seems strange, but young adults, adolescents, teenagers just don’t fit.  Maybe that is because I think of them as “my kids”.  They are such an important part of my world and they really are a part of my family.   I am always so amazed at how they step up and rise to the occasion, even when it requires them to go way, way out of their comfort zones. They do listen to me, they hear me and that makes me feel good. 

Marielle stepped up and motivated everyone to move from The Wall to the Lecture Hall. Then she stepped up again and asked everyone to move closer to the stage.  She didn’t hesitate so much the second time.  She has a very good teacher voice!  I was impressed. Everyone listened quite quickly!

Lisette, Thérèse, Aline, and Madeleine also stepped right up when I told them that everyone had to go onto the stage and read why people in our community feel like they don’t have a voice, and why the do.  The look of horror on their faces is hard to describe.  They were relieved when I started talking to explain a little more of my story about my finding a voice.  They were also sadly disappointed when I didn’t forget that they all had to come up to the stage.  They did awesome!  Just like I knew they would!

Not many people would believe that I was actually very shy in high school.  I always dreaded the teacher calling on me to respond to a question. I was always afraid of making a mistake, or sounding silly.  In college, I was so freaked out by Speech class that I waited until the summer before my senior year to take it.  Yes. I did know I wanted to be a teacher.  Yes.  I knew that being a teacher meant talking in front of people. None of that mattered; I was just shy.

Pierre mentioned tonight that he was thankful that he has overcome his shyness.  One day in class we talked about this.  How can it be easier to talk about philosophy and metaphysics and not be able to carry on more personal conversations? I guess it comes back to being vulnerable.  Yes.  That is it.  How proud I was to see him up on stage sharing that reality about himself.  It reminded me of myself and I know that others could relate as well.  That is the power of sharing from the heart.

I can so relate to my kids who struggled to get up and speak out in front of our community tonight.  Maybe that is why it was so important to me that they do it.  I know they can step out and speak up. Maybe I can help encourage that courage.  What a great word – encourage!    

Tonight a friend who has not seen me “in action” with my kids before asked one of them “Is she always like this?” He meant jumping up and down with excitement and enthusiasm…and talking fast!  Chantal confirmed it and my friend wasn’t so surprised.  Chantal continued to say that it is a nice change from her other classes.  I told my friend that I just can’t help it. He often reminds me to breathe, a necessary reminder that I do appreciate.  What is ironic is that there still are situations where I am hesitant and struggle to share with enthusiasm. Breaking out of shell is not an easy task.

So, to my “Who us….get up and talk?” crowd.  I am so, so proud of you for stepping up and using your voices to share with everyone.  It made a difference for us to hear you say out loud peoples’ ideas about having voices.  You made a difference.  Have courage!  You are awesome!

For ALL my kids who went out of their comfort zones tonight to stretch and grow….

This is why I teach.

#71 Is there anyone out there?

Sometimes when I am writing I just wonder to myself “Is there anyone out there reading these?” This whole online journaling is quite the interesting experience. I have kept journals all my life, but they have only been for me. They are the story of my life, yet I have kept it to myself.

What an exciting and scary adventure this is in sharing my voice, my ideas, my emotions, everything about me. The additional element in this experience is that I am not just telling my story anymore. I get to tell everyone’s story. And everyone gets to read it, right away, with the push of a “publish” button.  This is both awesome and scary.  I don’t want to get things “wrong”. But how could I if I am sharing me and my perspective?  Well, the answer is that I can’t.  Honesty is a powerful thing. 

When we allow ourselves to “Be 100”, thank my kids for teaching me that one, we no longer have to be afraid. We get to celebrate our perspective, our story and the story of the people in our lives, the people who are so important. We are “right” when we are ourselves.

I found out yesterday that I have a special person in my life who has ready every, yes every, one of my posts!  Now I feel loved and heard.  Being vulnerable has its rewards, great ones at that.    

To my one reader who has read every one of my posts…..your reward is that you get two!  : )

 

Merci Vanessa. Tu es formidable!  Bises.

Knowing that I am heard and that others want to hear my voice…

This is why I teach! 

Reason # 70 Chocolate pretzels and slurpees

I tell my students certain things, make certain requests.  One is that it is frustrating when students turn in work the day grades are due to be submitted officially.  Do they listen to me?  Oh, I wish.  With all that has been going on at school with our project on top of our normal activities, I admit that grading has not been at the top of my list.  So, I was working to get caught up on grading the day grades were due.   We were in the computer lab when I hear this sweet voice say “Miss are you doing grades?” My first thought…..Here we go. When I looked up, there is Vanessa with this big smile, knowing that this is the question I dread the most at this point in time.  Now could I refuse the request so politely and nicely asked with that smile.  I needn’t answer.  I can say that it cost a chocolate pretzel, one of my favorite treats, especially with toffee. 

Later the next week, we were working on The Wall in the hot sun, well at least most of us to finish it up before the news crew came.  I looked to a table in the courtyard and see my group of girls all visiting.  I had some questions for them and what did I see on the table but big slurpees!  Now, did they have an extra?  Sadly I realized they did not.  Who was the first one to jump up and offer to get me one?  Yes, it was Vanessa.  Now this time it did cost me a dollar, but well worth it.  Slurpees in the sunshine, nice.

Tweeting is a strange new experience.  I still don’t totally understand how it works, but I am making efforts with this new technology even though having 8 followers still makes me a little sad.  Vanessa asked me to tweet her a picture of what she wrote on the wall.  When I did, she tweeted a <<Merci.>> with a little smiley face…why do those always make me happy?  It is the little things, really it is. Now this was special as it was, to hear back immediately that she got the photo and made her happy. When she got to class and shared that it almost made her cry, well that almost made me cry.  This wall experience keeps doing this.

 

This is a difficult time in the year when seniors are graduating. They are super excited and while I am also excited for them, it is a time of mixed feelings.  I don’t like knowing that they won’t be in my class next year. I get used to being with them every day and life just isn’t the same when they move on to life beyond high school.  Letting go….another lesson of the classroom: a challenging one.  

Ma chère Vanessa, mon cheerleader future à UNM. Merci pout ton sourire et ton enthousiasme.  Tu es un rayon de soleil dans la classe et tu vas me manquer beaucoup !

Knowing that sharing the little things really does make a difference....

This is why I teach! 

Reason #68 What’s an Instagram?

Do the brains of young people just naturally adapt to the additional technology that just pops up out of nowhere? 

I am thankful that my students have happily volunteered to share our project through the social media of their choice!  They jumped at the opportunity to be in charge and I had no idea that there was an Instagram?  The cool thing I that I don’t need to know what they are. I have surrounded myself with perfectly capable and excited people who love all this technology and know how to use it efficiently.

Now, what does it mean when I send a Tweet to a student and they respond within seconds? If only they would do their homework as quickly!  No. I gave that one up a long time ago!   Next idea, I will teach them all the texting abbreviations in French and give them extra credit for using them in their tweets, tumbles, and updates.  First Simon’s Cat, now this! 

See this expertise in action. Join, like, follow, tweet, and tumble so you, too, can experience the inspiration and evolution of the Wall.

 

Facebook – Highland French Project

Tumblr – We all have a voice

Twitter – @highlandfrench

Instagram – weallhaveavoice_hhs

The opportunity for a world-wide community experience of inspiration…

 

That is why I teach!

Reason #67 The reality of changing the world

We really were on the news today!  There is evidence that we are changing the world!

I did miss the first live broadcast, however. It is Spring Break and I just couldn’t get up to catch the 4:30 am show.  Yeah for video on demand!  Now we can share it with everyone else too!

I actually had to plug my television back into the cable box since I don’t watch it anymore. I know, may sound lame, but that is how I found the Ted talk by Candy Chang that was the inspiration for this whole project!  Ideas worth sharing!

After watching the first hour and a half of news in over a year and experiencing the sad stories, I am so happy that my kids have created this inspirational reality.  It has already made such a difference at our community. So many people are now gathering, talking, laughing, sharing things they would not otherwise share.   

It is now their story but there will never be an ending, ever. This will go on far beyond our wildest imaginations.  How cool is that?   

Tweeting, Tumblring, Facebooking, and Instagramming along the way to the reality of our story being in the world has been surreal.  It is really out there now.

We have been carrying on thought-provoking conversations for months about sharing one’s voice, impacting other people, loving others, transforming the lives of other people, and believing in one self and others. We have watched French films, Ted talks, written personal reactions, talked with others in our community about their ideas. This project has evolved and is constantly moving and growing. It has been fascinating to sit back and watch it transform and make a difference for us all.

Watching my students share their voices with news was exciting. They have worked so hard and have such strong beliefs about this project.  I am thrilled they were able to share their voices and connect with an even wider community.  It was also fun to write with them and put chalk handprints on the wall together.  The day before it was chalkboard paint handprints!  They laughing and sharing reflects the spirit of the project…I am sure that will continue!   

Here is the link to the report:  Highland Students Cover Walls with Hopes,Dreams

They have started a revolution and it is going to go on and on and on…..what a beautiful thing!  Passing on inspiration! 

I am so happy that the news saw this inspiration, this desire for positivity and connection. The school district felt it as well…even in a tweet!!!  That must be pretty powerful to get the attention of our district in one tweet!  Yeah for our team!

Thank you to the news team for sharing the heart of our story and joining us as we all share our voices!  You have given us a gift in spreading our message even farther.  

Merci mille fois!  May you have a beautiful family, get to tailgate at a UT Austin game, and speak at a college graduation!!  May you produce DocuArt   May you live in your mother’s homeland – Italy. 

Meeting amazing people and sharing inspiring dreams…

This is why I teach!

Reason #66 Creating a place to belong

After our day delay, a reporter came out to school to interview us and learn about our story. The kids were nervous and excited at the same time.  I was feeling less nervous after getting my 5 pages of “clarification” of ideas to one page with three key points. I really didn’t want to forget them because they were the heart of our project. Yes. Our project has heart, a very big heart. That is why it is so very special; it goes far, far beyond paint on a wall.

The main ideas I really wanted to remember were:

1.) We had made many connections with ourselves, each other in different classes, with our school community, and soon the world;

2) We had created  a safe place where we all belong, a place where everyone has a place in the conversation, a new conversation about positive dreams and hopes;

3) As a result of my students acting on their inspiration and belief that they can change the world and transform the lives of other people, we are all connected to a conversation about what is truly important in life.

Being able to guide the creation of a place where 1,700+ people belong and can share meaningful conversations that will continue on and on….

That is why I teach!

Reason #62 The day we will all remember forever.

What an amazing day!  Now, why it had to be 45 degrees with a high of 55, we have no idea. Did that stop anyone - no way!  It just added to the memories of the day. Maybe hands will thaw out in a week, by the time everyone will be sharing on the amazing wall that is emerging 

Though I am utterly exhausted, I just have to write about today. This has to count for way more than one reason why I teach, but for now, I will let it be simply #62. It is not in any way simple, however. 

I will always remember the laughter, excitement, amazing energy, and bringing to life of the vision that was developed as a community and is now a reality for everyone at our school, not just today, but for a very long time. 

The way this post is evolving is a long thank you list. 

Angelique – Thank you for being the first one at the wall this morning all ready to go. You did such an awesome job on so many different aspects of the project today! Your efforts and enthusiasm are so great!

François – Thank you for being so creative as to take a paint can opener and try to scrape the wall since sanding it proved to be quite ineffective.  Your ingenuity led to us figure out that we needed to scrape the entire 40’x8’ space. That was job security for all for the entire day! 

Jacqueline, Gisèle, Angélique, et Brigitte  - Thank you for wanting to do personal interviews with staff and students alike. How great it is to now have on tape what people believe it means to have a voice and if they feel that they have one.  After five or so interviews, during which many people showed off the French they know, you decided to apply the idea of use celebrating diversity at Highland and interview at least one person who speaks every language at our school and record their responses in their native languages.  Your starting the list on the board which grew and grew by the end of the day was a good idea. It was fun to see that one by one, you crossed off the languages and added more. I loved watching you run across the campus with their video camera in hand searching for the next person to interview. How awesome it will be to hear from all the voices at our school, in their native languages.

Merci Colette G for working so hard all day long doing whatever needed to be done, when it needed to be done.  You were always watching and ready to help out, even shoveling

Nurse Danielle, that you for being so ready with all of the band-aides so many busy-hornets needed while scraping the ten layers of paint off the building.  We didn’t expect to have to shed blood along the way to making our wall come to life. 

Officer D, thank you for being a part of our Advisory Board. We really appreciate your enthusiasm and support. We also appreciate the special role you play in our community. You have been a part of Highland for so long and your dedication and connection shines through every day. We are fortunate that you have chosen to be with us.   

Alphonse G – thank you for all the work on the stencils. That was such an important part of the project and you really took it on and got things going.  On top of that, you did an amazing job contributing to the “uncover the math building” scraping and chiseling.  I hope that your hands recover quickly!

David I – Thank you for your constant effort and enthusiasm. You helped in so many different areas! You were so willing to go out first thing in the cold and work with organizing all the supplies and then the taping off of areas. That really made a difference in how we got started. You chiseled and scraped and painted all day! Way to go!

Alex – We would not be seeing so much of that chunk of concrete on the wall if it weren’t for your concentrated efforts and determination.

Céline -- Thank you for uncovering the huge patch of stucco on the south side. You worked through the cold with such great attitudes and excitement. Your enthusiasm for the project has added such great energy. I still remember you saying about how you have never been so excited about something at school.  Well, you are helping it come to life!

Marielle R – Thank you for working so hard with Céline and Marielle A. You certainly did show off your super powers by winning the battle with the stone!  Talk about strong!  Step back everyone!

Marielle A – Thank you for working with the 273+ interview cards to organizing everyone’s thoughts about having a voice. How interesting it will be to see what everyone thinks and feels! 

Solange G – Your work with the guys was impressive!  You kept right up with them in helping to uncover the north wall. Way to go girl!

Alice et Alexandre – Thank you for coming together to work on the Tumblr page. Alice, you were the first one to get us on social media the very day we got started over a month ago!  

Alexandre, thank you for teaching me about #tags. I may need further instruction. 

Jeanne-Marie et Cristelle -  I so appreciate you listening to me about not climbing on the ladder. I know you are enthusiastic and you really go all out!  Your jumping skills are awesome!

Cristelle – Thank you for coming in during lunch yesterday to help with the bracelets. They are going to be awesome! I also appreciate your making the phone call about having the t-shirts created locally!  That will make a big difference for everyone!  Thank you also for keeping Jean-Marie in the loop about what clothes to wear for painting. You are a great best-friend!    

Gabriel – Thank you for finding the sledge hammer, I mean rubber mallet, and chisel.  We were frightened at first. It certainly made a difference! 

Jean-Paul – Thank you for your expertise in the field of painting and building scraping. Your efforts and solutions to challenges really made a difference.  

Pierre – Your dedication and excitement are just awesome.  You are making not only the wall, but also our special portable board.  Part two of the project will come to life in a big part due to your design and hard work on the structure of the board. 

Jean-Paul et Pierre - Thanks for staying until the very end and helping to clean up the final pieces of the wall.

Christiane et Candice- Thank you for checking out the i-pad and taking some fun photos and video.

Nicolas – Thank you for getting Instagram started. I still don’t know what it is really, but do know it is going to be a great way for us to share. Thanks for taking it on.

Olivette – Thank you for working with Twitter. I look forward to all you are going to teach me about it!  I hope the ribbon I got is “girly” enough! The next time you are going to go with me to Hobby Lobby!   

I know that I have not been able to remember everyone as I would like to.  I will add more as the memories come back. I can’t wait to check out all the pictures….on Tumblr, Facebook, Instagram…..and more! 

What an amazing experience today has been – thanks to all of you!  What an amazing team!

Life-changing moments….

 

This is why I teach! 

In three days time....