Well, well, well . . . can you believe it? After years and years of people telling me to do it; clients and workshop attendees asking me to do it; and, of course, me knowing I should do it, BLOGGING has been creeping up my "To Do List." The time has finally come and today is the day.
But, before I get started, if you haven't been to the site lately be sure to stop by! I think you'll be surprised by the "Extreme Makeover." You can check it out HERE.
Now, with that out of the way, let's get right into it and start off with a little story.
Everybody loves a good story and this is one of my favorites.
Oh, by the way, this post is mostly for educators and parents. Leaders of teens in the workforce, I'll get to you soon.
So, here we go . . . .
The keynote address was over and I must admit it was a GREAT one. (I love the standing ovation . . . I’m addicted!) The teen leaders were fired-up as they poured out of the auditorium. I was at the door high-fivin’ every one that I possibly could - it’s what I always do after I speak. For me, this is one last chance to sink the message into their hearts just a little bit deeper. But on this day, something different happened. A young lady all of about 15 years of age stopped directly in front of me. She looked right into my eyes and said, “Thanks for putting all that stuff in my backpack.” I asked her, “What are you talking about?” She answered, “I’m talking about my backpack of life. Don’t you know that’s what you do? You give us all the stuff we need so we can use everything we learn in class. My mom calls it my backpack of life and it’s a little bit heavier now after you put so much stuff in their today. Thanks!”
Wow. She might have only been 15, but she was closer to 50 in terms of wisdom.
On my flight home, I thought a lot about her “Backpack of Life.” What a great concept. Isn’t that what we all want as educators, parents, and leaders? For each student to be able to take what she learns in the classroom and apply it everyday as she makes her way through life.
I think that remarkable young lady was right - that is what I do. In fact, that’s exactly what my Legendary Teaching presentation for educators is all about. It provides teachers with the tools they need so their students can take what they learn inside the four walls of the classroom and apply it in their world. And, not just for today, but for the rest of their lives.
As I make my way across the country presenting to educators at conferences, workshops and inservices, I regularly see the results – schools becoming a place where lives are changed, futures are created, and dreams are realized. But it’s experiences like this – spending just a few moments with a wonderful 15 year old young lady who is wise beyond her years - that remind me that those things only happen as a result of the impact we have on the lives of individual students.
As we touch the hearts of each of our students, so we shape the culture of our classrooms, our campuses, and our communities.
What a great question for every educator to begin each day: “What am I going to do today to fill my students’ Backpacks of Life”?
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