I DISAGREE...

The last four days...included some interesting happenings.  There are always incidents around schools that create plenty of reasons for many people to find all that is wrong with the world.  Many people on the outside can provide a liteny of excuses why education is spiraling out of control and how kids these days are just never going to get what this world is getting ready to hand them.  I DISAGREE.  The last four days I spent  an extensive amount of time with a group of 24 senior students from Eminence Independent High School on thier Senior Trip to Memphis and I witnessed the opposite.

The last four days revealed much more than I will ever be able to articulate in this written documentation, but it is important enough for to make an attempt.  The world tells us how bad our children have become and today I write to state differently. The last four days I witnessed 24 young adults who enjoyed their senior trip and demonstrated a positive attitude despite the fact that many of them have plenty of reasons to do the opposite.  They chose happiness.  They chose contentment. They chose patience.  They chose responsible behavior.  The last four days were NOT, just another four days in the field of education.  These 24 young adults impacted my week beyond measure and revealed the true DNA of a Warrior.

No, they didn't pass a MAP or KPREP test, master a Common Core standard, or solve a major school issue.  What they demonstrated was more important than any of those components in education.  I see it so often and take it forgranted, but today I vowed I would take the time to compose and share what I witnessed these last four days.  This trip was about  them. It was their senior trip, it was about them  making memories that they will hold onto for a lifetime.  It is a trip that has been months in the planning for them to enjoy.  It was NOT just another trip.

These twenty-four young adults took in every experience from the tour bus driver who was certainly quirky, to a multitude of tours including Opry Mills Hotel, Parthenon in Nashville, Sun Studio's, Rock and Soul, Graceland, Beale Street, Mud Island, Memphis Zoo, Stax Studio/Museum, Civil Rights Museum, to their experience on Beale Street.  These twenty-four students demonstrated the feeling of family that we often talk about at Eminence, but don't always document and capture.  They looked out for each other, were respectful to each other and anyone they interacted with, and showed appreciation for each moment they experienced.  One young lady found her love for Elvis and I can say emphatically that I saw this young lady smile more than I ever have in a consective four days.  This experience went well beyond Common Core, KPREP, and MAP and reminded me what education is truly about and the importance of experiences beyond assessments.

I learned a few things:
1.  I am getting old, not totally there...but the fact that I could hang with them all day and could not make it beyond 10:00 confirmed my youth is slowly dwindling.  It made me appreciate their energy and the need for them to make the world turn for my future.
2.  Me being old did not hinder or prevent 24 students from learning and it gave me a wonderful opportunity to appreciate youth beyond the walls of a school building.
3. Watching memories made by youth makes your heart beat strong! When I saw the evidence of these 24 students jumping in the pool with their clothes on, it was entertaining knowing they will talk about this at their 20 year reunion!
4.  You can take a trip with high school students that is fun and drug/alcohol free.  I am so proud of them for their responsible behavior.  It shows thier true class character.
5.  Life is really an amazing journey and I am glad I got to share four days with 24 of the most respectful leaders that will graduate from Eminence High School this year as the Class of 2014.

This group of seniors are preparing to leave our school and move into their very own next chapter and I have to share something...they made my week and I will miss their leadership. To those who think this generation has nothing to offer and they are underprepared and disrespectful...I DISAGREE! They have more to offer than we take time to stop, witness, and appreciate.  I am thankful to serve these students.  They are amazing people who are going to serve you and I in the near future and I believe they will make the world a better place!

Never forget Memphis, let Room 206 always be a reminder that, "You can kill the dreamer, but you can never kill the dream."

 Thank YOU Class of 2014 for a wonderful Senior Trip experience!