A Lesson 5 Years Later!
Who knew you could learn a lifelong lesson from a mathematics teacher? Of course, you can; math is a lifelong skill; I wonder why anyone would doubt it. What if I told you she taught me (us) a "how to live a better life" skill?
In 2019 I had the distinct pleasure of attending my grandson Max's high school graduation. It was a beautiful warm, and humid evening in New York. Perfect for graduation ceremonies in the gymnasium filled with anxious people to see their loved one walk across the stage. And, of course, we arrived early to get the best seats to watch Max!
As people picked up their programs, they quickly began looking for their kids' names, seeing who was speaking, and noting who the keynote speaker was. I, for one, immediately noticed that a teacher was the keynote speaker. To say this put a pause in my thinking is being gentle. Having a calculus teacher speak turned out to be engaging in a way I had not thought of, not in a million years.
You could tell something was afoot as she walked to the podium. Nearly all students, especially the seniors, watched her walk confidently to the stand with a warm smile. For a moment, she stood silently, engaging the graduating students by eyesight, I swear she looked at every student, and everyone returned the contact. She smiled, they smiled, some giggled, and others quietly waved; clearly, they knew something that we did not.
She talked not only to the graduating class, but to every person in attendance that evening. Here is a short version of what she talked about.
Talking points:
"You learn the most by doing each of these everyday:
1) Finding something to be thankful for
2) Doing something uncomfortable
3) Doing something embarrassing."
Mrs. Stewart, Calculus teacher, Keynote speaker New Paltz High School graduation, Spring 2019, New Paltz, NY
It was clear that she had touched these students. She used examples to make her points, letting everyone know that she and the students participated in learning together. And if it's not apparent, she touched me as well. Her speech resonated with me, causing me to take notes and write about it five years later. That's a pretty good job of teaching, Mrs. Stewart!
So why are these three activities important?
Finding something to be thankful for is about gratitude, and a great way to deepen your understanding of gratitude is to look at words that are "opposites." I have included a link to wordhippo for you to look at if you should choose; some "opposite" words that stood out to me; criticism, disregard, hatred, and blame, to name a few. A short review of these words helps me understand that I want to be on life's "gratitude" side.
Doing something uncomfortable, what is this about? ZenBusiness has an excellent article on "the benefits of doing something uncomfortable." Two thoughts early in the piece stand out to me: 1) "Good things in life come to those who take risks." 2) "Do you think reaching out to other people, or a new hobby, or eating healthier, or even a new job, or doing anything you view as uncomfortable could be a rewarding experience?" You will feel terrific when you conquer the act of doing something uncomfortable, regardless of how small it might be. So, why not?
Doing something embarrassing hit me as a real thinker, especially knowing that I'm a bit on the free spirit side of life, known for doing things that most might find embarrassing. Research finds this great article on doing this purposefully (see the link below for more details). They write, "When you embarrass yourself you do the opposite of what you probably do on a daily basis. This is a mind shift that will help you to stop thinking about situations in such black and white terms." I like this way of thinking, as it talks about "constructive embarrassment," which helps you deal with your emotions. It's about developing your confidence! Knowing that you can handle a growing amount of situations can be a huge confidence builder, and we all need confidence!
Thank you, Mrs. Stewart, you are a true rockstar! You taught me several lessons for a lifetime, and I'm sure your students feel the same way.
"Helping others find their compass." by Gene
Gratitude - opposites as listed by wordhippo: https://www.wordhippo.com/what-is/the-opposite-of/gratitude.html
Zen Business article: https://www.zenbusiness.com/blog/uncomfortable/
Embarrass yourself on purpose article: https://www.verywellmind.com/how-can-i-embarrass-myself-on-purpose-3024825