The Importance of Humility

When I was a freshman in high school, my English teacher started a discussion about the most valuable trait a person could have. My peers and I came up with opinions along the lines of being honest, kind, respectful, etc. Then my teacher offered a trait for us to discuss: humility. As a teenager, hearing the word humility made me think of the act of being humiliated. Why would being humiliated be considered a desirable trait?

Fulfilling his job description, Mr. Campbell schooled me on some vocabulary and a life lesson (arguably, the more important part in his job description). 

Humility (n). hyü-ˈmi-lə-tē, yü-\ : The quality or state of not thinking you are better than other people; the quality or state of being humble

I'm not claiming to make a profound observation here (I hope it's rather obvious), but it's been weighing heavy on my mind lately so I just need to vent. The lack of humility in the world today explains a vast majority of the world's problems, past and present: from world leaders fueled by corruption and greed, to conflict in the Middle East among the different sects of Islam, to bullying in schools, to political party banter, to petty social media arguments where everyone boasts in all caps as an unwavering sign of commitment to their ideology.

Granted, there are a lot of other factors that go into all these conflicts beyond people's lack of humility that have been ingrained in society over history and simply asking people to practice more humility at this point would be like sticking a standard band-aid on a severed artery. I don't think pride is all bad. It drives a lot of positivity and progression in society. However, humility requires a certain degree of sacrificing pride and opening the mind to foreign ideas. The only hope we really have is in the youth. If a new generation with renewed humility become the majority and see their forefather's enemies as potential allies, then maybe the world can start to mend.

I feel so small when I think about all of it, knowing that wishful thinking doesn't get me very far. I hate the mantras that there can be no good without evil, no light without dark and so on. I see the truth behind them. But it seems like we drag more of the evil and darkness into the future. Can't we leave a little of it in history as we move forward? We are supposed to learn from the past, after all, not repeat it. And as long as the dark is in the past, remembered and not forgotten, we can preserve more light for the future.

So there you have it...no blogging for two years and that's what came out. Here's to a future where people can act for the common good, where the world can find peace from remembering instability of the past, and where people can have healthy discussions face to face with humility.

Namaste.

Kins

Gratitude

A list of ten things that I am thankful for...

1) I am thankful for my past and on-going educational experience that not only gives me knowledge, but experience and exposure to the world outside my bubble. 

2) I am thankful to have a career that I grow more passionate about the more it challenges me and the little human beings I work with that arguably teach me more than I teach them. 

3) I am thankful for the roof over my head with a gorgeous mountain view every single day that my career allows me to afford. 

4) I am thankful for the rebels that stuck it to Great Britain so I could be a citizen of the United States where I have a voice and the freedom to pursue my dreams and passions. 

5) With that, I am thankful for the men and women who have served or are serving in the armed forces to protect our liberties.

6) I am thankful for Colorado's beauty and shred.

7) I am thankful for my obnoxious cat who felt it necessary to use my arm as a headrest as I type this...

8) I am thankful for my friends, new and old, and the memories created on a daily basis.

9) I am thankful for being a granddaughter of Lois Ann who inspires me everyday from her place in my heart and in Heaven to just love everyone.

10) I am thankful for my extremely loving family, especially my stellar parents whose support has been overwhelmingly awesome...none of the above would be possible without them (well, the colonies probably still would have separated from Great Britain...and Colorado would likely still have mountains...but yeah).

I've got gratitude coming out the wahzoo!

Namaste.

Kins

I Just Got Really Excited About Learning

I have survived my first quarter as a junior high teacher. One down, three to go!!!

Don't get me wrong, I totally love my job. In fact, I still have a hard time grasping the concept that I get paid for it. But to be perfectly honest, I am looking forward to next year when I have a year of experience under my belt. I have been flying by the seat of my pants on many occasions and wishing I had put in more preparation for certain things and have been overall unsatisfied with a lot of things I have produced in the classroom so far. Perfectionism has always been a struggle for me and I have always been a tough critic of myself. "The first year is all about survival," they keep telling me. This I have gathered, and I am trying really hard to accept that reality. Some days, after the final bell has rung and I return to my classroom from outside duty, I find myself completely dumbfounded. How did I get to three o'clock in the afternoon?? What classes did I have today?? What the hell did I teach all day?? Did I eat today?? What's my name again...

All I know is that I am exhausted and my feet are killing me.

It is safe to say that there have been zero dull moments in the past few months. The days and months are flying by with no sign of slowing down in the near future (or ever). I fall asleep at 7:30 in front of the TV often. I frequently try to use my house key to get into my classroom in the mornings. I resist the temptation to introduce myself as Ms. Towler to adults outside of school. I cannot read anything without going through modeling and reading strategies in my head as if my students were inside my brain. I kind of feel like my life is a mess right now, but I totally love it. I have never once dreaded going into school, and once the kids walk in the room, I feel pretty content about my life in general.

So with the first quarter under my belt, I'd like to share my favorite teacher moment of the quarter:

Every lesson should have a learning objective to let the students know what they are doing that day. My school is changing gears a bit and calling them "learning intentions." This approach has three parts: what the student will know, why they need to know it, and how they know when they have mastered it. My favorite teacher moment happened right after my class reviewed the warm-up over the previous lesson and addressed the learning intention for our lesson that day about the French and Dutch explorers...

The learner will be able to compare and contrast the different settlement patterns and characteristics of the French and Dutch in the New World...So that I can examine the increase in competition among European nations for power in the New World...I will know that I have mastered this when I create a triple Venn Diagram comparing the Spanish, French, and Dutch explorers.

I shit you not. The student sitting in the desk in front of me literally leaned forward and said, "Ms. Towler...I just got really excited about learning." And he was one hundred percent serious.

Who says that? Seriously, is this real life?

Namaste.
Kins