Being All In
Happy New Year! At the end of the year, I did a fair amount of reflection on my life as a teacher, a mother, and overall member of the community in which I live. I have always been reflective. Even as a small child, I would write for hours in the diary that had a small heart lock on it. So, the beginning of this year was no different for me.
As hard as it is to admit, 2016 was the year I stretched myself way too thin so much to the point that I was completely overwhelmed. I thought that if I gave myself and my time to many people and things, I would be living life the best way I possibly could. Even though I hopefully did a lot of good, I wasn’t fully present; I wasn’t “all in.” I first learned that phrase when I learned how to play cards. While I did not have the confidence to utter “I’m in,” very often and don’t find myself playing cards much these days--if at all--when I did say those words, I was taking a chance and was fully present in the round. The same holds true for life. To be present--to be all in--is one of the best gifts we can give one another.
It took the advice and compassion of one friend this fall to make me see what being “all in” really means. She listened unconditionally without judgment. She gave me her time. And in doing so, she made me realize what I was lacking in life. Through her I’ve learned that being all in doesn’t mean volunteering for every single thing. It doesn’t mean trying to be the best at what I do. It means being present in the lives of those around me as my friend was for me. Don’t get me wrong; I’m not giving up on volunteering and helping others--our world needs more kindness, after all. I just think I will try to give my kindness in a new way with a greater presence and attention.
I invite you to consider this advice and try to live life “all in.” Your four years of high school will go by all too quickly if you let it. Don’t wish the days away. Avoid procrastination if possible. Be present in your classes--invest your time by participating in seminars, reading the books, collaborating with your peers. Be present in your school community and at home.
Here are some moments I caught you “all in” during my class this past month. TOK seniors, you turned in your final drafts of their extended essay--an eighteen month research project. Congratulations! I have watched you from last January think of a unique topic, perform college-level research, and then write and rewrite. To say I am proud is an understatement.
TOK Juniors, get ready. This month your extended essay journey begins! This past month, I am most proud of your commitment to service. Lindsay Call, an IB junior, led a class service project for CAS (Community, Activity, Service) and donated them to a homeless shelter. The day before break, we made five no-sew fleece blankets. What a powerful example of the CAS program of your IB diploma!
As for my English 11 students, I am proud of how far you’ve come as writers. The month of December I asked you to imitate the writing style of Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God. I received some of the best pieces of writing from you; your sentence structure, your diction--all of it has improved tenfold. You are true examples of being “all in.” We will spend the month of January getting ready for our first official IB assessment--the individual oral commentary (IOC). Take every practice opportunity I give you. Remember, you are just having a literary conversation with me for twenty minutes! As much as many of you will complain about it, I will love every minute of it; it’s one of my passions--having the opportunity to discuss literature with my students.
At the start of this new year, consider what I mentioned earlier in terms of being truly present. My resolution this new year is not to exercise more or eat better or read more books or drink more water (although none of those are bad resolutions). Rather, I resolve to play my cards with whatever hand I’m dealt in life and be fully present in that hand. 2017, I’m ready! I’m not just in; I’m all in. Are you?
