“Without Passion, it’s just a Job”

The 2012 Convocation signaled the beginning of our instructional year.  The annual event celebrated accomplishments and achievements from the past year as well as revisited the direction, the purpose, and expectations for this present year – “the beginning of different” and “we have work to do”. 

We celebrated years of service as well as introduced staff new to the Anson County Schools or those in a new position.  Mr. Terry Thoren delivered the keynote address. The 2012 Convocation concluded with a special thank you and appreciation from the Board of Education.

The “take-a-ways” from Convocation were many. 

One theme, however resonated  - “without passion, it is just a job”

Mr. Thoren shared the numerous lessons learned albeit from successes or “opportunities” (also known as crisis or failures).  The “ups” and “downs” of creating, directing, producing and etc. television and film especially in animation were fascinating. 

However, what was most impressive was Mr. Thoren’s decision to leave the world of entertainment to pursue “life changing” work in the world of education.  It was during this part of his keynote that the audience’s hearts and minds were riveted to his words. 

Taking the best of what he accomplished in animation and applying it towards developing characters, stories, situations that provide guidance, solve problems, model and reinforce appropriate behaviors, and much more through the powerful medium of animation was not only motivational but served to underpin the “take-a-way of the day”, passion.

“If you don’t have passion for what you are doing – stop doing it.”  There it is.  Passion!

Arguably, the work of teaching, the work of educators is second only to faith-based work.  The intensity of human interaction and relationship is constant. The impact of support staff albeit custodian, secretary, cafeteria, or teacher assistant to classroom teacher and administrator each have significant weight, value, and importance.  Irrespective of one’s role in education, passion for this work must be the fuel that ignites and sustains us continuously.

It is passion that causes us to arrive hours before children start their day as well as stay long after they have returned home.  It is passion that compels us to spend evenings and weekends reflecting, reviewing, correcting and planning albeit for student learning or improving instruction.  It is passion that motivates us to attend athletic contests, band performances, drama, and other student activities.  It is passion that insists that we pursue excellences in every endeavor.  Yes, passion for what we do makes what we do meaningful.

I have included some of the other points he made during the keynote.

·  Everyone wants to be a part of something

·  How You Think is Everything

·  Every day you must make an effort to take some action towards your goals.

·  Never Stop Learning

·  Be Persistent and Work Hard

·  Learn to Analyze Details

·  Focus Your Time – don’t let other people or things distract you

·  Don’t Be Afraid To Innovate

·  Learn to Communicate Effectively

·  Crisis is Opportunity

·  Maintain Balance in Your Life

·  The only constant is change

·  Take responsibility for your actions

The Convocation closed with a brief but powerful Benediction – “don’t be afraid”.  As we discussed the simplicity of those four words we became even more moved by their meaning.

As one staff queried, “I wonder what I could’ve accomplished if I hadn’t been afraid of failing or coming up short?”

In a year where “different” will be the norm, we must embrace fear not avoid it.  We must confront fear rather than run from it. 

Mr. Thoren, through telling “his story”, conveyed powerful insights especially as we individually and collectively face fear.  We must use “vision, focus, thinking positive, being positive, and taking action” to move forward even if moving forward is into the unknown.

We do not know the depth of “different” we will experience this year.  The uncertainty will at times be unsettling.  We will make mistakes.  Yet, the work we must do is the work that impacts children – now and in their future.

(Note – the details of Our Playbook is still coming)