"With a Conscience" - "Dear Children of the Universe" - Part Four

"The strongest principle of growth lies  in the human choice." - George Eliot

        Dear Children of the Universe,

            This is my last address to you.  My last words of truth are looming here for a number of reasons.  The most important one being, this is my last year of continual worry and concern about you, in my classroom.  Life moves us forward and the choices we make are ours to own.

            

        After 20 years of dedication in the classroom, I can honestly tell you that the endless level of concerns for your well-being have never lessened.  In fact, they developed into tidal waves, particually within the last five years.  I nearly drowned many times. During the mornings, driving to work, all I would think about is whether you were going to walk into my classroom ready to be taught or ready to be counseled?  Were you going to walk into my classroom, ready to put all of the chaos you were experiencing behind you for 42 minutes and perhaps feel as though you accomplished something.  Here's a message...Learning does not hurt you.  It can NOT hurt you.  It can challenge you but it can not hurt you;  not like the hurt you may have experienced in the hallway or at home.  Here's another truth. I wouldn't want to be 13 or 14 years of age for all of the tea in China.  Those years were the most painful of my 64 years but then again, what you must understand is that life has phenomenal joy and happiness along with gut wrenching pain and the only way to withstand the ride is to never, NEVER give up.

You just do NOT give up on yourself and know that no feeling or emotion is every permanent. Emotions, like a subway, come and go.  

            Your parents shield you, protect you, support you, but that is not a permanent solution to how to conduct your life. They can not talk you out of a traffic ticket.   You must find a dedication to something.  You must not ignore the process of learning even if you think you can get away with it and many of you have tried to do just that.  Here's a tip, "Nothing is handed to you.  Nothing is free."  You may have received a new cell phone for Christmas or your birthday, but that is not a guarantee for success.  Life can not be defined over a text.  Life has to be handled face to face.  It has to be real not transmitted. We must be conscious of our impulses.  We must be conscious of our feelings towards each other and those we love.  You must show respect for the adults who support you.  You must have respect for the laws that protect you.  These behaviors help you win.  You must win.

            In conclusion, do not think for one second that I have not cared nor worried about the outcome of your time together. Even though you may have been strongly reprimanded numerous times, it was done for your own good. Handle life with grace.  Handle life with fortitude and strength.  You know what "right" is.  You do.  So remember it and as your journey continues, remember you had a teacher who cared deeply, loved you and wanted the best for you.