Every day is a challenge. Today was as busy of a day as they come. IB Visual Arts classes are preparing to finish their exhibition projects, comparative studies, and process portfolios which all need to be scanned, photographed, and uploaded. This all will be completed right before spring break in April. Throw the yearbook in the mix,which has 17 days left before completion, also right before spring break, and you ha e a crazy few weeks ahead of you.

I was picking up to leave, literally drained from a period of craziness in yearbook. We still need to photograph waterpolo for men and women, women’s soccer, women’s softball, women’s soccer, and baseball. I’m sending my Yerds out into the school for missing interviews, tracking down club sponsors to get missing group photos, and more. Yearbook class has 33 students doing 33 different things, and usually 33 problems all at once.

On the way out of school, one of our admin innocently commented that I missed the assembly to talk about my classes for next year, including a new classes called Artivism (Art+Activism). Our school has a fairly inefficient method of recruiting and signing students up which is frustrating. That and missing the informational meeting has me stressed along with the events of the day. Our admin said if I did not go into classrooms to recruit, my class was in jeopardy of being axed before it ever started. I do not have time to walk around the building, scoping out the scene and persuading students that my class is cool. I’m pretty busy.

I was peeved. I was annoyed. Mostly I was annoyed at the negative approach that was taken. Instead of asking how things are going or offering help with recruiting, the conversation went to, if you do not do this, then this will be cut. I was ready for an argument. I was ready to fight. I was so ready to give up too. I explained briefly where I stood and left. I decided to take a breath. I decided to live for another day.

I would not have found the correct answer in that moment to solve the issue. I know there are coworkers that will help. I also know that yelling at admin will not accomplish anything positive. I chose to take a breath, form a plan, and live for another day.

IB art is approaching their deadlines for exhibition artworks created from their process portfolios and their comparative studies. Many of my students are in the final stages of their projects while others find distractions in every corner of their life. As a teacher, I am beginning to read and research ideas on how to motivate individuals. I am not sure how to instill a sense of urgency in students coming from families that often struggle to value education. Besides not seeing the value, many students lack a genuine curiosity in life. It’s troubling and challenging to see that in young people. What is replacing curiosity? Cell phones. Social media. Communication. So much more.

This fate is not for everyone. I spent half of my first period conceptualizing ideas with a students. She had a number of ah ha moments in a row as she devised a plan to create an artwork that was not only complex in design and deep in meaning, but would force her to learn a whole new skill set. With a deadline looming and excitement in her voice, I had hope again for students.

Deadlines. Deadlines. The yearbook is due in less than thirty days. When reflecting on the idea of becoming a teacher, I realized I had a naive sense of changing the world one student at a time. In reality, I’m at my wits end. I have a number of students that are dedicated and pouring their hearts into the book, but also have a number who simply do not have the same passion or desire to excel. I have yet to not finish a book, but the added stress of completing the yearbook and IB within weeks will test me as a person.

Everything changed during the last class of the day. I’ve gotten to know my students over the years and I jokingly was talking to a student asking about her boyfriend because a coworker mentioned he was trouble. I asked her if he was trouble and she stared at the ground and said yes. I followed that question with another. Is he good to you. No, still staring at the ground. My heart sank thinking of my own daughters. I’ve also told my students that I’m straight to the point and do not sugar coat things. She opened up and told me she’s never talked about him before. The conversation ended with me asking her if it was ok if I could get her information to help protect her and me knowing I’d have to seek out help elsewhere.

Looking back on today, I am taking away a few ideas. I am doing something right that students have faith in me to share ideas and seek out help for them. Helping students is why I’m here above any other reason. Deadlines will come and go. We will get everything done and find a way to dig deep for motivation. Lastly, I lived to see another day.

This will be more of a journal of what I see and do. I picked an odd time to start this as I am in the last stretch of IB Visual Arts as well as Yearbook. Both have a hard deadline in April. Both cause a lot of stress to me and the students. Both will get done.

With any free time I have, I am planning for a new class next year that will replace my Graphic Design class. Artivism will be new to our school and students. It’s so new that the word gets autocorrected in my phone. It’s so new I have to keep explaining the goals of the class to others. I am still figuring those out myself. Art + Activism = another busy year for me. I am taking an online class on Coursera, I’ll get details later, to help me on this new journey.

Personally, I am trying to sketch more, run more, and have a wife and three kids that divide my time. It’s a miracle that anything gets done at all, but I, we all find a way. There’s no sitting down for too long. I am always moving, even if my Fitbit is the motivation to get off my ass.

More to come soon, including student artwork, my artwork, running splits, pictures of family, and more.

Thanks for reading.

Shunty

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton