Changes

For those of you that don't know I'm in the midst of currently pursuing a Master's degree in Middle Grades Education with a concentration in English, and I completed an assignment today for one of my classes that required me to read a book entitled Who Moved My Cheese? The book basically deals with change and how we choose to respond to those changes that so frequently occur in our lives. While the book was certainly a fascinating read, what I found more interesting is the coincidental timing of having to complete this assignment with all the recent changes in both my personal and professional life. One of the many lessons I took away from the book is the fact that changes are inevitable in our lives, and that instead of instinctually assuming that all change is synonymous with bad it stressed the importance of visualizing and embracing all the good that can come with change.

On a personal note the recent, and unexpected passing, of my grandfather last week was definitely a change that I was not prepared for, and it was quite difficult to find any good that could come from his death. However, something good did come from the unfortunate circumstances. I was able to reconnect and bond with my half sister during the 3 day trip to Georgia. Seventeen of those hours were spent with her and I passing the time talking on the way down and the way back. She is soon to be 20 years old and I have been absent from her life for the majority of it, due in large part to my being unable to let's say 'get along with my father'. I have carried around guilt for years, and I was finally able to explain myself and apologize to her for not being the brother I wanted to be. To my surprise and delight she accepted my apology and we ended up having a wonderful time. We had so much more in common than I would have ever thought possible.

Professionally, I will be faced with many changes in the coming school year and reading the book Who Moved My Cheese? has better equipped me to handle those impending changes. The first change for next year is that I'll be teaching 8th grade, instead of 7th, which I have taught for the past two years. I must admit that I have been anxious and excited about the changes associated with the move. The other two changes that I have not been so excited about is the departure of the principal that hired me, and the idea of having to adjust to the new principal and all the changes that will entail. Additionally, I will be teaching a new class as part of a county adopted literacy program called LANGUAGE! To say the least I was not looking forward to teaching this new program, but I am now ready to tackle the challenges that lay ahead. A question asked repeatedly by one of the main characters in the book is, "What would you do if you were not afraid?" It is this question that I will use to guide me next year as I'm faced with these new changes.