Beginning of the school year speech.
“If you are teaching students, secure your oxygen mask first and then assist students.”
Pre-Flight safety speech, “If you are travelling with a child or someone who requires assistance, secure your mask on first, and then assist the other person.”
I was relaxed and waiting for my flight to take off.
I was going to Boston to see my middle child receive her second master’s degree. Of course I heard the same old speech I hear every time I board a plane. But this time as I listened I thought about how much a small child depends on another person for protection and help. I thought about how important we educators are to our students and society as a whole. If we don’t put an oxygen mask on daily where would our country…for that matter our world… be.
There is a reason the airline tells you to put your oxygen mask on first. The person you are planning on helping usually is not capable of completing the task alone.
Teachers come to work early, stay late, work weekends, work holidays, take work home and somewhere in all of that, try to take care of their family. I have seen great teachers become tired, frustrated, and burned out.
Teachers, please put the oxygen mask on first WE NEED YOU. Regardless whether you are teaching pre-school, seniors in high school, or any grade in-between, they are children and they need your help. If you are exhausted and burned out you can’t help them.
I know it’s easier said than done. Sometimes you can’t find the mask or you have already lost so much oxygen you can’t focus enough to put the mask on.
With the new school year starting here are some oxygen mask tips:
- When all else fails learn to laugh. Really, just start laughing. You’ll be surprised how fun it is to laugh at nothing.
- Take deep relaxing breathes and let the oxygen flow to your brain. There is nothing like a breath of fresh air to clear the mind.
- Take an object to school that will remind you of a wonderful time in your life. When things get rough look at it and think of the feeling you had during that event and know there is more to life then whatever stress is facing you at that moment.
- When at all possible take in some sunshine. A dose of vitamin D is what I call it.
- Leave work at work sometimes. I promise you it will be there in the morning.
- Eat well, rest well, and exercise. Who cares if you have the keg not the six pack, just be healthy.
- Last but not least have fun at work. Enjoy your students, support your colleagues as much as possible and believe in yourself.
- Put your oxygen mask on and breathe. Just breathe. Then you can help your campus, students and yes the world excel.
Have an amazing school year!