I should be writing a multiple choice test...

... but I'm not. Instead, I am once again thinking about what I do and why I do it (professionally, interpersonally, recreationally, etc.).

This morning, I met with a new student who is already very behind in my class and who has not yet shown signs of wishing to apply himself. I showed him the multiple assignments in which he did not do the work asked and explained that 1. this level of work will not allow him to pass my class and 2. his demeanor did not indicate a desire to pass my class, which therefore did not make me feel inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt. He didn't make eye contact. He barely responded. At the end, I told him that I hoped we could have a positive relationship this year. I was sure he had blown me off. Then, in class today, he sat up, actively participated, asked questions when he did not understand, and provided positively to the atmosphere of the class. He's just a child really... sometimes I need to remember how much they need love AND structure.

Last evening, I was walking through our dining hall and stopped to say hi to two of my 10th grade girls. They had stayed late to work on homework, and they were working diligently. One of the girls asked me if I would look over a paragraph she was writing for another class. This was significant because last year the two of us had spent long hours in my classroom working to help her put her thoughts into coherent sentences and cohesive paragraphs (she doesn't speak English at home and used to believe she would never be able to pass an essay). As she handed it to me, she was beaming... obviously, she wanted my praise more than my advice. The beautiful thing is, her paragraph was really good. She gets it and she knows it... she's getting As and Bs this year instead of Cs and Ds.

Yesterday afternoon, my girls won their soccer game 6-1. The other team was small and never really had a chance, but, more importantly, my girls did what was asked of them and did it well. They played as a team and encouraged one another. They laughed and had fun. They supported the other team.

Sometimes, in my desire to constantly improve, in my high expectations, in my belief that I should be able to meet all the needs around me, I lose sight of what's true. God has placed me here for now to teach these kids how to strive after Him and while doing so to strive for excellence in all aspects of life. I can only do that when I am striving after Him myself.