Greetings, Dragon Nation! Once again, it is a pleasure to have the opportunity to share a few thoughts with you as we get ready to enjoy a much-needed spring break!

Over the course of the year, I have written about such topics as honor, faculty professional development, the budget, and have generally tried to be transparent about what goes on behind the scenes and how we shape our goals for the school. Today, I want to take the liberty to write about something a little more personal. I would like to use this space to speak of how I deal with adversity and how to use the power of positive thinking.

Let me start by saying that our mental health is every bit as important as our physical health. We all have friends and colleagues, as well as some of us ourselves, that are dealing with real challenges that require professional help and we should never try to minimize those challenges with simple platitudes. As a society, we are finally coming to grips with the reality that mental health challenges are often medical conditions and need to be treated as such.

The first reality that must be faced is that life is not fair. It just isn’t. We are going to be faced with challenges that are often not of our doing. It is ok to be angry, hurt, and sad. It is after the initial reaction to the adversity has passed that we are presented with a choice. We can either focus upon the negative or look for the opportunity in the challenge. By using the power of positive thinking, we can put the adversity in perspective and focus on the steps needed to rebound. I will be the first to tell you that this isn’t easy. It requires training your mind to see things differently. 

To use some of my experiences as an example, I didn’t get accepted to my first-choice college. I thrived at my second choice. There was no joy in my first four jobs out of college. It was my fifth job where I became a teacher and fell in love with my career. When COVID hit, after the initial shock, I looked at it as an opportunity to figure out how to create as “normal” an experience for our community in the most abnormal of times. We figured it out and found ways to instruct, found ways to connect, have an outdoor prom and homecoming, graduate our seniors, and transition back to where we are today. When faced with cancer, I was determined to not let the disease define me and to stay positive and embrace the love and support that was given to me by so many. 

We live in a world where some people seem to thrive on negativity. If they won the lottery, they would complain about the taxes that they have to pay! You will be faced with adversity, challenges, and disappointment. Will you dwell on the negative or will you give yourself some time to be angry and sad and then reset your mind to positivity? The choice, my friends, is yours. 

Thanks again to Jabberwock for giving me another forum to stay connected with you. Until next time, stay safe, stay strong, and go dragons!