While doing TFA Pre-Institute Work

So, I am sipping on a nice cup of coffee and watching some of the DVD that TFA sent to watch and reflect on as part of our Pre-Institute coursework. I have to say, I have been anxious about what is to come. I have been thinking a lot about how challenging the next two years will be and how extreme it will feel to jump in to it all at once on Monday. It just felt very overwhelming.

As I watch this DVD, however, I was reminded of the summer I worked at Breakthrough and some memories I have of that summer. At the end of the summer, every teacher was to select a "Student of the Summer" for their particular classes. It was tough to make a decision because all of the students had worked so hard the entire summer. Eventually, I decided on Riel. Riel was an incredible student, yet she consistently seemed to do everything in her power to push the limits during my class. She would speak out when I was talking, openly make fun of other students and myself during class, she would chat with her peers when I was going over something or when it was work time, she would refuse to work with students when they had to do things in groups. Yet, everytime I collected an assignment, I was continually blown away with what she would turn in.

So, when I told Riel that she was going to be "Student of the Summer," she took a moment to dramatically open her mouth, give a long pause, and look at me and say "Huh? Are you serious?" And I told her that I, of course, was serious and that she was an excellent student and I was very proud of everything she had done. She was so excited from that moment forward and the genuine enthusiasm she had for learning continued to thrive. She still emails and calls every once in awhile to let me know how she's doing in school.

Anyways, it was important for me to tap in to that memory because I've been really focused on how hard TFA will be. I know it will be. I don't doubt it will be even more emotionally and physically exhausting than Breakthrough, but with an even longer timeline. But it is moments and memories like the one I have Riel (and the countless other memories from Breakthrough) that propel me forward with faith in what is to come next. Even when things were at their most heartbreaking during Breakthrough, I would never give it up for all the incredible strength, courage and joy I found from working with my seventh graders that summer.

And now, I return to my Pre-Institute coursework!

Oh, and if you are interested in The Breakthrough Collaborative, there's more at their website http://www.breakthroughcollaborative.org/ and their blog http://teachbreakthroughs.org/