I am in a very uncomfortable place personally at the moment. It is a time for growth but sometimes I long for stagnancy. I yearn for the easy, the comfortable, the same. But same is not always good, especially if you know you are supposed to do life differently.
Monday was rough. Tuesday, I come in and was able to manage my first class.
In second period, we discussed and listened to Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien by Edith Piaf. I was able to have a deep conversation (like many in this AP class) about the difference between regret and remorse.
Monday was rough. Tuesday, I come in and was able to manage my first class.
In second period, we discussed and listened to Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien by Edith Piaf. I was able to have a deep conversation (like many in this AP class) about the difference between regret and remorse.
Things below are words that these students shared. Words of experience in their life. Words that encouraged me so very much.
I don't mind risk. I see the good and the bad in experiences and I am able to learn something from each one.
I beat myself up about things but my parents and my sister don't. It's really hard for me to let things go.
I think you can have remorse but not always carry regret. If you don't have remorse, it means you don't care about anything or anyone.
We discussed if regret was hereditary. We discussed how to let go of things and move on and grow. We discussed painful memories in our past, things we still regret and feel bad about. But in the end, we are all very similar and dealing with the same things - holding on and letting go.
Most of these students in this class are seniors and moving on to the next level of education - college. I love the fact that we get to have deep, meaningful conversations in class in French. We've discussed beauty, how we make art, if there could be peace without war, and if we are born free how is man also enslaved everywhere, as Rousseau says in The Social Contract.
Then, in fifth period yesterday, I asked a student to write her answer on the board. Her reply was
"I'll write it on the board. I don't know if it's right, but I guess that's the point, huh? To see if it is."
This student has struggled with perfectionism ALL. YEAR. This is someone I want to experience the joy of failure and learning and growing from where we fail. Not only was it HUGE to hear them say this, but it was exactly what I needed to hear in that moment yesterday.
And another student replied, "Good insight, ____!" And the other student was sincere!
If you let them, the students will teach you too. So let them! Give up control. Let go of the reins but not the expectations. They will surprise you with what they accomplish. And then, my friend, you will be in a community of learning where everyone contributes.
I don't mind risk. I see the good and the bad in experiences and I am able to learn something from each one.
I beat myself up about things but my parents and my sister don't. It's really hard for me to let things go.
I think you can have remorse but not always carry regret. If you don't have remorse, it means you don't care about anything or anyone.
We discussed if regret was hereditary. We discussed how to let go of things and move on and grow. We discussed painful memories in our past, things we still regret and feel bad about. But in the end, we are all very similar and dealing with the same things - holding on and letting go.
Most of these students in this class are seniors and moving on to the next level of education - college. I love the fact that we get to have deep, meaningful conversations in class in French. We've discussed beauty, how we make art, if there could be peace without war, and if we are born free how is man also enslaved everywhere, as Rousseau says in The Social Contract.
Then, in fifth period yesterday, I asked a student to write her answer on the board. Her reply was
"I'll write it on the board. I don't know if it's right, but I guess that's the point, huh? To see if it is."
This student has struggled with perfectionism ALL. YEAR. This is someone I want to experience the joy of failure and learning and growing from where we fail. Not only was it HUGE to hear them say this, but it was exactly what I needed to hear in that moment yesterday.
And another student replied, "Good insight, ____!" And the other student was sincere!
If you let them, the students will teach you too. So let them! Give up control. Let go of the reins but not the expectations. They will surprise you with what they accomplish. And then, my friend, you will be in a community of learning where everyone contributes.