Today was probably one of the best classes I have had so far.

As a warm-up activity, I asked my students to write their own personal mission statements.  I shared mine with them:

1.  I will be the best educator I can be.

2.  I will know no limits.

3.  I will learn something new every day.

4.  I will write habitually and passionately every day.

5.  I will foster creativity and curiosity in everyone I meet.

6.  I will believe that everyone, including myself, has the ability to succeed.

I wrote this more than a month ago, at the CWVWP Summer Institute.  As I read it today, however, one of those unavoidable but unexpected light bulbs went on in my brain.  These students have the challenge of helping me accomplish missions 3, 4, and 5.

The best teachers are those who knew their students have just as much (if not more) to teach as they do.  Also, since I write with my students and have promised to respond to all of their blog posts, I am compelled to write every day and with enthusiasm.  And, of course, a big part of my job is getting them curious about the world and encouraging them to create.

I love my career.  I really do.  Harry Wong says in his book The First Days of School that there are two kinds of people:  workers and leaders.  “The two things that matter most to a worker are time and money.”  However, “The two major concerns of a leader are enhancement and cooperation.”

For a while, I wondered if my career was pushing me in the direction of becoming a worker.  But now that I have stripped myself of the negativity, now that I have had an experience that shows how much my students can change me and how much I can change them, I am certain that I control which person I will be.

I’ll let you guess.

Until later… “There’s no turning back now that you opened up to your mind.”