Get Out There And Change The World





I am writing this post from an airplane as I travel to the Teach Better Conference in Akron, Ohio.  For the past week, I have been seeing a flood of posts from educators around the country getting pumped up for this conference and the connections that will be built. I too am excited about meeting and connecting with everyone, but most importantly I am excited to learn new things that I can implement in my school next week with kids. 

I often ask myself if this type of learning and connecting is possible without leaving your building and going somewhere. I don’t think it is. Of course, with the use of social media, face to face phone apps, connecting has become easier than ever. However, it is not the same. (Some type of professional development is better than none)

As I was wrapping up things around my school this week in anticipation of being out on Thursday and Friday, I felt guilty. I felt guilty about leaving my school. I felt guilty about leaving my students. I felt guilty for leaving my staff. I felt guilty for leaving my colleagues. Even though the reality is that I will come back stronger, the guilt still exists. 

Professional development can feed the soul and inspire you to become better. It can push yourself to teach better. It can push yourself to Be The One For Kids. It is natural to feel guilt. But I want you to know that taking the time to build yourself as a person and as a professional will only make you stronger in the classroom and in life. Take the opportunities that come your way and grow. Sometimes we must make ourselves the priority so we can make the impact that we were born to impact. 

Get out there and change the world. I believe in you!

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