Karen Wootton, Odenton, MD karenwootton@cpm.org
Through the dark and cold winters, the anticipation for the new growth and beauty of spring keeps many of us going. The change of the season induces a calming sigh of relief. We know warmer temperatures are coming, darker days are fading, and the end of the school year is not far off. Not that we are counting.
The past few years have been difficult, and I know there is nothing I can write that can help. But I can share my hope. I am hopeful that this spring will bring more sunshine and flowers to our lives, and the end of the school year will leave us tired but excited for something more normal next year. We have all gained new skills and insights into ourselves and our students that we can take to the next school year. I have learned that technology, while not perfect, does provide opportunities to connect. Teachers have shown me how resourceful they are and how willing they are to do whatever it takes to support students. I have read about schools that are using the pandemic to reconsider the role of school in students’ lives, and are making changes to better support the whole student. A lot of good could come from this experience.
Dolly Parton said, “Storms make trees take deeper roots.” We have all been through a storm. What have you learned from it? What do you have to look forward to? What will you take from this time to inform your life moving forward? Did your roots grow deeper? If it is too soon to pull out a nugget of positivity from the past few years, that is okay too! Perhaps the most important thing you have learned is your limits. Just don’t forget to celebrate that you reached them and are around to talk about it.