Just Keep Running!

At some point during my student teaching experience my cooperating teacher compared becoming a teacher to running a marathon.    He said, “ Getting to the classroom can be hard and can sometimes take a while.”                The analogy made me smile because my sister is an avid runner.   Mom always considered it ironic that she had one  daughter who could run for days and one daughter  who was told she’d never walk.   In high school Lindsey was always recognized for being an accomplished runner and star student. These days she runs half marathons for fun.

 Each time Lindsey runs she sends me a picture of her at the finish line.  The first time she did this I asked Mom why sending me these pictures was   so important to Lindsey.  She responded with words that will forever be engraved in  my heart.  “She says it’s hard for her to explain but that she runs for you Julie!”    Lindsey’s point, she recognizes that it   might be physically difficult for me to run a marathon yet; she’s committed to honoring the strength she sees in me overcoming cerebral palsy!

In two weeks I’ll take my teaching test.   It’s just about that time in the studying process when I’m tired, overwhelmed, and extremely afraid that I might forget all the History I’ve ever learned!     As I turn another   corner in this marathon, I have to admit there have been many days when I wanted to stop running against fear and failure.   This is to say, sometimes, it feels like no matter what I do everyone is ahead of me.   It seems    like  few people  have to run the same distance as me. This feeling  can  get me stuck in   it’s not fair mode.      

  As I walked this morning I continued to reflect on my teaching journey.  My thoughts made me consider something that I was compelled to share.  What if coming in first place during this marathon is different than winning?   Yes, becoming a teacher has been harder and taken much longer than expected but I have grown so much and been supported by so many people!   So, while I’m nervous about turning this corner (Passing this test) I’m really filled with gratitude about how I’ve been overwhelmingly  encouraged to reach this goal.

   

 Honestly, it’s this life long encouragement that INSPIRED me to run toward teaching in the first place. In an earlier blog post, I wrote about the impact of the T.E.L.L  (Teach Encourage Listen Love) message on my life. I believe that people need encouragement but I also think we should all aim to be encouragers.   There is so much strength in running along side of someone as they strive to achieve their greatest goal.

 Keep running…. If you’re headed in the right direction, those who BELIEVE in you will be just around the bend!  

With a Grateful Heart,

Teacher Julie

If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.”   Martin Luther King