Summer Session: Celebrating Independence Day

In the past, I haven't done much for the 4th of July. When I was younger it was a backyard BBQ, Maryland steamed crabs, and sparklers (which is delicious and fun). Outside of the one time I celebrated the 4th of July on the National Mall with friends, for most of my adult life the holiday has mainly been a day off without much fanfare and with a desire to avoid massive in an attempt to see fireworks. So when an opportunity to change it up this year arose, I jumped at it. 

This year I celebrated the nation's independence by serving others at Hands on Hartford's 4th of July Community Meal. Hands on Hartford is a nonprofit organization that "serves Hartford's neediest residents in the areas of food, housing, and economic security." One of their programs is the Community Meals programs through which they provide lunch and dinner on specific days during the week and holidays meals on 12 holidays of the year, with the July 4th being one of those holiday meal days. Today we had the privilege of welcoming, serving (restaurant style), and celebrating with Hartford residents. Today was about community.

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Choosing to volunteer on the holiday gave me a chance to give back, serve others, and experience the 4th of July as more than grillin' and fireworks. It also gave me time to think about what the day means to so many people in a country with such a complicated history. While the United States gained its Independence on July 4, 1776, my ancestors did not. [Just to clarify, I am referencing my African-American ancestors as opposed to my Nigerian ancestors or the other family of the slave owner who started my mom's family line through his slave.] It was only until the more recent history that African-Americans gained the full rights to which a citizen was entitled. So on this day, I honor America's Independence Day as I am proud American and I honor those who serve our country and protect our freedoms (which includes both my brothers). Today, I also reflect on the history of this country as it cannot be rewritten and for as far as we have come, there is always more work to do on behalf of all citizens. While I did not go into today thinking beyond my decision to volunteer, I would say that spending this national holiday in service to others and in reflection was a pretty good way to spend it. Happy Indepemdence Day!

Summer Session: Refilling My Bucket

The school year can take a lot out of an educator. You put a lot of energy and heart into the year and into your students. There are highs, lows, and everything in between, which makes the summer the perfect time to renew, recharge, and refresh. In other words, the summer is when one must commit to refilling their bucket. While it is hard to step completely away from the school life when you want to have some time to reflect on the year that has passed and plan for the year ahead, carving out family time and me-time is equally as important. I mean, if you are not taking care of yourself how do you expect to be there for your students or colleagues. Put on your oxygen mask first.

For me, my refilling bucket takes many forms over the summer (which I will talk about in future blog posts). However, there are always two things I always make sure to include - time at the beach and lots of reading. There is just something about the beach that I love. Perhaps it's the soothing nature of the crashes waves, the blue skies, and warm sun. I love solo time at the beach where I can sit with my thoughts, write or read. I also enjoy family time at the beach and get a real kick out of seeing my son play in the water. We were blessed to be able to get away earlier this summer as a family for a few days to enjoy Narragansett, RI. It did the heart, body, and soul good.

During the school year, there are times when I can be hit or miss with my book goal, but summer gives me the chance to get back on track. So there are currently 3 piles of books crowding my bedside, which include my school summer reading book, some YA fiction, world fiction, leadership books, student leadership books and, of course, a few executive functioning reads. It's safe to say that I have a book problem and it's a good problem to have. If you're interested I listed the books in my piles below. Happy reading!

What's Currently In My Book Piles?

The Alchemist by Paulo Cohelo

Exit West by Mohsin Hamid

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan 

Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek

The Success GPA by Mawi Asgedom

Positively Resilient by Doug Hensch

Choose to Matter by Julie Foudy

Reading with Patrick by Michelle Kuo

When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon

Four Weeks, Five People by Jennifer Yu

Smart but Scattered by Peg Dawson, EdD, and Richard Guare, PhD

Self Reg by Dr. Stuart Shanker 

Dear Ijeawele, or a Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions by Chimamanda Adichie

We Can't Talk About That At Work! How to Talk about Race, Religion, Politics, and Other Polarizing Topics by Mary-Frances Winters

Captain Underpants to the Rescue

Recently, my son has had several instances where his impulsivity and overall 8 year old was has gotten the best of him while leading to poor decision making. Needless to say we've had a lot of conversations this week about behavior. So his recent poor decision came in the form of his spelling a curse word (which I later found out he had learned from another kid) out loud in front of peers; it was only a matter of time, right? So after a stern talking to, I took a breath to figure out what to do next. It was there in the calm of my room that I saw Bryan Smith's book What Were You Thinking: A Story about Learning to Control Your Impulses. Perfect and timely. I invited my son in to read the book to me. Afterwards, we discussed the steps they write about in the book to take to help a the main character think before saying or doing some things. My son understood the steps and we applied them to past situations to see how using those steps could have been helpful. The time seemed right to transition into a conversation with my son about how his brain works and about his ADHD, which we learned from a recent school evaluation. 

Over the past couple of years, I've been on this intellectual (as an educator) and emotional (as a parent) journey of trying to understand the why and what underlying some of my son's behavior. I've read a lot of articles, books, and listened to several podcast that focus on twice-gifted, differently wired kids and neurodiversity. The time was now to jump in to this conversation with him. I'm talking and he's nodding. I reference his creativity, curiosity, and activeness. I talk with him about famous successful people whose minds work overtime like his. More nodding. Then I ask him if he's heard of ADHD. He perks up and says "Yes, mom. I read about it in Captain Underpants Book 12 because George and Harold have ADHD. I can show you where." And there it was. The books that I had confiscated earlier this week because he just could not help but sneak read them after lights out at bedtime, are the same books that have given my son some context to understand himself a little more. Ironic. Despite my son thinking that ADHD means he'll write comics like George and Harold, he does feel more connected to them, their author Dav Pilkey, (who also has ADHD) and Percy Jackson now because he now sees a little of himself in them. The power of books. Thank you, Captain Underpants! 

Loving Day - June 12, 2017

Today we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of of the Loving v. Virginia decision that overturned state laws banning interracial marriage. Today is affectionately known as "Loving Day". It's hard to imagine that two people loving each other for just being themselves was ever illegal, but then again we do have the history of this country that led to such laws. The overturning of this anti-miscegenation allows my husband and I to be a family. We are allowed to love across racial lines. However, our journey was not easy. There were naysayers in our lives and disapproving looks along the way. People holding on to outdated ideas and beliefs. So we pushed back and did not let them dampen our spirits, push us down, or rip us apart. We just kept believing, fighting, and loving.

Our union ...

 produced and blessed us with this amazing and wackadoodle kid ...

 and completed our beautiful family.

 

So thank you to Richard and Mildred Loving for fighting the good, but difficult fight for what is right and against injustice. 

Summer Plan 2017

So I could out a detailed list of what I hope and plan to do this summer now that the school year has wrapped up, but really it all tends to fall under four thematic headers ...

Keep it simple.

Slow it down. 

Do me, for me.

No over-scheduling allowed.

So that's my plan and I'm sticking to it.

Happy Summer All!

 



And just like that, they're gone....

Opening Dance - September 2016

Every year graduation comes around and every year we have to say goodbye to another class of students. It's always bittersweet. You can't help but see the stories that made up their journey to graduation day as they walk across the stage to accept their diplomas. Going in you have no idea what the time together will bring - laughter, tears, tough love moments, pep talks, and more. The journey with each student is different and you never really know if what you're doing is working. You question your effectiveness. You sigh and shake your head with frustration many times. You laugh with them about random and ridiculous life moments or musings. You cry with them during the tough times or poor decisions. You try to lift them up and to get them to believe in themselves. Sometimes you feel like you really messed it up, didn't do enough, or missed a moment that could have made all the difference. You tried too hard to protect them from themselves and other times you felt like you didn't try hard enough. You pushed them to be better versions of themselves. You watched them grow, learn, work, play, struggle and persevere. You gave them all your energy, insight and heart. You refused to give up. You cared for them almost like they're your own and then you returned them to their parents to continue their journey elsewhere. Next stop college. You hope they'll stay in touch and let you know how they're doing. Some will and some won't. You hope that you were helpful to them in some way and had a positive impact on their experience, but you'll never really know. You hope they're ready to take on the world, pursue their dreams, take good risks, and help others. You hope they'll carry their lessons learned forward as they continue to forge their own paths in the storybook of their life. When it's all said and done, what you know for sure is what you learned from them, how they challenged you to be better, and how they impacted your life. And just like that, they're gone and the journey begins with anew with the next class of students. So thank you Class of 2017, until our paths cross again. And to the Class of 2019, our journey together starts this fall; See you then!.

Graduation Day - May 2017



A Note to My Seniors at the 1 Month Mark to Graduation

Dear Class of 2017,

Today marks a month to graduation (and the excitement, nervousness, and nostalgia that goes with that). This time will fly and is jammed packed, as you know. So in addition to meeting all of your obligations (hint, hint), make time for quality friend time and to just take it all in. There's no slowing down this sprint to the finish line now, so enjoy every day. Share lots of wonderful simple moments with each other. Also, make the time to say thank you to your friends for being there for you through thick and thin. Make time to say thank you to those faculty members that have impacted your life in little and great ways during your time on the Island. Make time to say thank you to your families for being there, for the gift of Loomis, for cheering you on, and for loving you (in all your "youness") when you needed it most. 

I know you are feeling that itch to move on and that just means you're getting ready to say goodbye and to start a new chapter in your life. You can be ready and you can be sad to go. The two do not have to be mutually exclusive. Do whatever you have left to do here, so you have no regrets. May these last 30 days be filled with lots of laughter, friendship, and memory making. I wish you all a fabulous final month on the Island.

All the best,

Dean Sasser