Recently my daughter asked me if I wished that I could be a child again? I immediately said “No” to which she responded how adults have so much responsibility and seem to have such little fun. While she elaborated on her point, and slight reflected on easy life was as a child overall. I lived a life with no financial obligations, all my meals and clothes were provided, my chores were basic, and my level of responsibility was low! I remember it just like it was the other…I would wake up, grab a bowl of cereal, and head to the family room to watch my favorite cartoons. Life seemed so easy as a child. Maybe my young daughter was correct! Those memories did not last long because I then reflected on the restrictions and guidelines that I had to abide by, and how at the time thought they were unfair. Even though many thoughts raced through my head, I concluded them with the thought that life is not easy; at any stage of development. When faced with challenges and difficulties what really determines if desired results are achieved is if you keep trying.
Determination is the sole contributor to how so many successful people were able to accomplish their goals or achieve at a high level. I wish the road to victory was a smooth even playing field, that was littered with resources, encouragement, and rest stops, but that is not the case. When obstacles rise up on their path, successful people don’t stop, they turn the obstacles into stepping stones and continue striding onward and upward. As of January 2018, Floyd Mayweather Jr. has built an empire on box giving him a net worth that falls between $700 million and $1 billion. Not having to be concerned about financial obligations to the average person would make some think that he has the life of ease. Mayweather’s current lifestyle is definitely the result of his determination. At the age of one, he almost lost his life staring down the barrel of a shotgun, as his father used him as a human-shield while having a conflict with another family member. He then lived in a home with no electricity, running water, or working utilities sleeping seven people to one room with a mother that was addicted to cocaine. He once stated that it was almost disturbing if a night passed without him hearing a gun firing. He recalls Christmas holidays passing each year, yet not being able to receive presents and even respects his mother for attempting to steal something in attempts to bring them some form of joy. Floyd’s family shared how he wore boxing gloves as a baby and began setting his course in life before he could even walk. Mayweather vowed not to be a victim of his environment and avoided drugs and alcohol. He chose to fight, not only physically, but as a means of escape from a world of poverty, drugs, and perhaps ironically, abuse and violence. With a total of at least 50 professional boxing triumphs, 27 by knockout, despite his highly-criticized character, Floyd Mayweather Jr. displayed determination to the highest caliber. He showed how despite the challenges that life presented him with, if he kept striving for success, he could do the impossible!
In the classroom we often face challenges that seem to attack from all directions. Aside from personal issues, there are limited resources, discipline problems, over-sized classrooms, micro-management, high expectations, and low pay. These are just a few to say the least. If you need to, take out a sheet of paper and write down all the difficulties that you believe prevent you from being a successful and effective Educator. Now, take that sheet of paper and ball it up or burn it. Today marks the day when we change our perspective. Your position in school and classroom has a greater purpose than you know, and there is nothing on that paper powerful enough to stop you once you focus your mind to accomplish it. At some point, type and print the word “determination” in bright colors and post it in your office or close to your classroom desk. Whenever you are discouraged or overwhelmed look at that term and know that with that characteristic you can accomplish anything and that is what it takes to really be a Next Level Educator!
The Jeremy Anderson Group