"Nothing is greater than this day" -Goethe

Blogging... the entire concept is a little weird for me... but I will give it a shot if it allows people a chance to catch a glimpse of...this.

I struggle to find anything to talk about except for my students. They are so strong, inspirational, inquisitive, vibrant. They rise to any occasion... literally ANY! I wake up thinking about them every morning and go to bed praying for them every night. They are my purpose. Simple as that.

This summer I taught twenty three 6th graders reading and math, in a 4 week summer school, in the good-ole Mississippi Delta. Carver Elementary tested the lowest of all elementary schools in the Delta, which as a region, tests the lowest in the state of Mississippi. As a state, Mississippi notoriously ranks lowest among any in the country. All but two of my students were in summer school for remediation. My students ranged in age from 11 to 13, some reading at a 6th grade level, others struggling with testing books meant for 2nd graders. Some could do long division, others broke off their erasers as they battled the simplest addition problems.

I went home and cried after my first day. Not because it was bad, but because it was great. Great because it was shocking, real, challenging. I had met my match. God had placed me. Put me here, at this school, for these kids. All of the work I had done throughout my entire schooling career...all the papers, tests, projects... were for this. To share the knowledge I had been gifted. The struggles I had been through, that made me resilient...persistent... fearless ... hopeful ... showed their immense value.

Education is a gift, one EVERY single child ABSOLUTELY DESERVES to receive. I looked at my students, and could not understand why they hadn't been given their gift. Why don't they have their own textbooks? Why aren't there enough desks? My kids want to doctors, business owners, moms, dads, providers, graduates... just like the kids sitting in private schools across town. WHY aren't they being given the same chance to realize their dreams, whatever they may be?
If you know anything about me, you know I can get pretty fired up and a bit intense... especially about things that impact the people around me and those I care about. Grow that by making those people ones that I love... and my STUDENTS at that. Needless to say, the fighting spirit birthed in my so long ago found itself right at home in my tiny, cinderblock classroom.

My kids laughed, danced, fought, cried, played... and begged to learn. On the first day of school we cheered... "What time is it?"... "GAME TIME"... followed by the most insanely amazing "power clap" ever. Power clap: rub your hands together really really fast to create a ton of friction... on the count of three make one loud "CLAP". 1...2....3.....CLAP! With those 23 power claps, it started....my journey began. Like a gun firing before a race. The only thing is, you start running, but you have no idea where the finish line is. No one told me there wasn't one, but then again, I always knew that.

That cheer, that clap, the residual laughter as my students giggled at their tingling hands... was the gun fire that told me to start running.

I am off and running, my students next to me (and several out in front leading the way). I am running a race without a finish line, next to 8,200 other corps members who have their students all around them. We feed off of each other, and we are all running for our kids. Why? Because someone needs to get them started. We start the race... teach our students the best strategies, most inspirational sayings, how to set big goals, to BELIEVE in themselves and their abilities...even when their muscles hurt...until they are running on their own... sprinting down their own path, towards their own finish line...whatever they dream that to be.

I am here for them...because it has so clearly been put on my heart as my purpose. I am so thankful for the gifts I have been given that allow me to be here, doing what I am doing. I am so thankful for the people who support me, love me, believe in me. I am especially thankful for the the people who ran along side me, and headed me towards my own finish line.

Off and running, ready to roll. New shoes, comfy clothes, sleeves rolled up, hair in a ponytail, and a spirit that CANNOT be shaken.