Do You Love Your Job?

Well, I did it, I signed a contract to return to the Lower Yukon School District... I was thinking about my options for a long time. I must admit, though, I left out a key factor in the equation: the student of LYSD. My decision was honestly made, or 80% sure, that is. I was leaning heavily toward leaving to find a life on the road system. It would have meant driving, restaurants, and a social life.

Then I took a trip with 7 students to the Future Educators of Alaska Annual Gathering this past month. They changed everything. I was so proud of them I could barely hide my urges to high-five them every few minutes. I won't go into too much detail, but needless to say these young ladies are truly special.

They challenged me to rethink why I became a teacher and where I'm going professionally. I asked myself what really matters in my life, and specifically in my career. The choice I had made was a selfish one. It was about me, my living arrangements, my personal time, and the adults I work with. I hadn't considered the impact I could have on the students and teachers in my district. So... I'm back... and loving my job as much as ever!

I ran across this blog a while ago and though I would share: 14 Telling Signs You Love Your Job.

1. You don’t talk about other people; you talk about the cool things other people are doing.

I do this all the time!! I am always bragging about the gifted educators and amazing staff we have in LYSD. I will not mention names, frankly because you wouldn't read it it would be so long, but trust that if you call me I'll tell you about a few...

2. You think, “I hope I get to…” instead of, “I hope I don’t have to…”

This summarizes 2013-2014 for me. I hope.

3. You see your internal and external customers not as people to satisfy but simply as people.

I consider most of the professionals I work with friends, some better than others, but I genuinely care about them all. I do aim to please.

4. You enjoy your time at work.

Jamming out in my little office from 7:45 to 6:00 or so everyday is a blast. The company is pretty good and I always feel so productive. 

5. You would recommend working at your company to your best friend…

I recommend to my friends, too, but I take it to the next level: I have been evangelizing to my mother and sister, both of which are teachers! 

6. You enjoy attending meetings.

Okay, I don't know about this one... ( - MINUS 1 point)

7. You don’t think about surviving. You think about winning.

This one depends on the time of year. I think we all are in survival mode when the water is off more than it's on in Mountain Village during late winter. ( - MINUS 1 point, but not all the time!)

8. You see your manager as a person you work with, not for.

I am trusted. I am part of a team. 

9. You don’t want to let your coworkers down.

NEVER! 

10. You hardly ever look at the clock.

This one is hilarious because every day ends with me saying to my coworker, "Oh my gosh, it's already 5:00!"

11. You view success in terms of fulfillment and gratification – not just promotions and money.

I worry about this one and I am trying to keep it in check. I think I'm okay for the time being. 

12. You leave work with items on your to-do list you’re excited about tackling tomorrow.

If you look at my phone I have Google Docs full of "talking points", half a dozen voice memos, and several notes on my Stickies app. It is not uncommon that I send emails at midnight or set alarms and reminders for myself whilst exiting a dream of the next workday. Sad? Maybe. Fun? Definitely! 

13. You help without thinking.

Ask me for a ride to the airport and find out.

14. You don’t think about retirement… because retirement sounds boring…

Okay, this one is a tough one! I can't wait to retire, but that's because I want to start a second career running a SCUBA shop in Cozumel! ( - MINUS 1 point)

How many of the above statements apply to you and your job?

I got 11/14, how about you?

If you said:

0-3: You may want to find a new job. Life is too short.

4-6: You don't hate your job... but you don't love it either. What can you do differently?

7-10: You really enjoy your job and the people you work with

11-14: You are deeply, madly in love with your job! (and your friends are jealous!)

Sprinter Fever

Welcome to March-April in Alaska, or as I refer to it: 

SPR-INTER.

Okay, okay, so it's not a word (for a season anyway), but in Alaska it should be! We have a glorious summer, a funky cold Fall, Winter, and Spring with negative temps and 10 inches of snow! This is what I am calling Spring-Winter or Spr-inter. It's driving me nuts already! I am so excited by the sun and gorgeous days. Sun up at 7:30am and sundown around 9:00pm it is difficult to stay inside for work and even tougher on the weekends!

Here we go again!

I am glad to see the signs of spring though, even though it sprinter is a menace when you freeze your tail off playing outside. Spring also means that school is wrapping up, which is always a surprise no matter how well you plan for it. Working in the Bush provides so many wonderful opportunities to get out and play like last weekend's manaqing trip:

I am thrilled at the possibilities for next year and look forward to another school year!

A quick reflection on the last school year leaves my head spinning.

• Not counting “weather days” I have estimated 87 days at sites. This means 87 days spent in classrooms working with teachers and students around the district. 
• Hoping to better serve the schools by making myself available to staff first thing in the morning, I have travelled an estimated 30 evenings. These evenings are always outside of  contractual obligations, and many times on Sundays. 
• Not one to travel to and from a single site, the afore mentioned stats mean that I have spent the night in a school 60-70 times this year. (Many times I have been welcomed in the homes of staff in their guest rooms)
• I am so appreciative of everyone who has cooked me dinner, welcomed me to a guest room, and generally entertained me while on the road.

This summer will be nothing short of spectacular I think. My sister is getting married so I will be heading to Louisiana for a bit in July. It won't be too long before I am back, too, as she just informed me that she and her to-be-husband are expecting a new baby! So excited I don't even know what to say! My father and step-mother are planning a trip to come visit Alaska in July as well, so I have a lot to look forward to...

The Price of Innocence is Impotence

There are only two ways to look at problems and events in your life: those events within your control and those events out of your control.  If you believe something is in your control you are powerful. If you believe something is out of your control you are innocent.

Working in the bush has shown me that there are some pretty amazing teachers, staff members and students working in rural schools. What makes them effective? Why are some looked to as leaders? How do certain teachers get so much out of their students?

I say it’s because they are in control… or at least they think they are.

I read recently:

There are two types of causes: those within and those beyond your control. You have a choice about where to focus. The latter makes you look innocent. You are not to blame. The former makes you powerful. It is your “response-ability.” Being “response-able” means focusing on what you can do to respond to a challenge. It’s about taking ownership, rather than assigning blame and playing the innocent victim. As I wrote here, the price of innocence is impotence.

Original Post

Teachers are a great sample of the population in general, but especially so when one considers the task before our nation and the role of the American teacher. In the Bush, for example, there is an unending thread of negatives that must be overcome before a teacher can succeed (or so it would seem).

“Well we don’t even have water in the village so I…”

“These kids don’t do homework so how can I…”

“The community isn’t supportive enough so I…”

I am not saying it’s teachers’ fault, I am one of them after all. What I am saying is that when you add up all those statements at the end of the year do you have more that you can’t control or can?

Maybe I am lying to myself, but I choose to take responsibility. I WILL do. I WILL be held accountable. I WILL succeed. I will also fail, come up short, and accept consequences.

I recently bench pressed 335lbs. 

When I lifted it I felt strong, before I could I said it “was too heavy.”

Lots of other guys could lift it though, so what I meant to say was “It was too heavy for me”  So… will you “be strong” or will you say “it’s too heavy?”

If you hear me say “it’s too heavy” remind me to add “for me.”

Yukon Wind Surfing

A good friend of mine recently had a brilliant idea to attach a tarp to a stick tied to a toboggan. The top of the tarp could then be handled in large wind gusts to form a sail. The result is wind surfing on the frozen Yukon River.

Hoping to copy the idea, another friend and I attached a smaller tarp to a flimsy sled and we all met up on the river Monday afternoon. It turns out the fastest participants were those under 100 pounds, but the  strong winds were plenty plenty strong enough to get us up to almost 15 mph!

Here is a quick video of the fun:

 CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO

Assirtuq, Quyana!

I am a positive person. I haven't always been, but I decided some years ago to just be happy. It really is a choice. Life is exciting and unexpected. It's a journey, even adventure at times. So often I forget to be happy and then I remind myself I am warm, well fed (even chubby), and able to follow my dreams. I love my life and cherish the small things on this day.

I am so thankful for water, which I have had for a solid three weeks! I am so blessed with great friends. We share meals, stories, and laughter daily. I give freely and accept their love and prayer wholeheartedly. They don't know it, but I get the better end of the deal...

I live in a magical paradise of wilderness beauty with flora and fauna unlike anywhere else on the planet.  The community of Mountain Village is generally welcoming, the church is spirit filled, and the Yup'ik cultural activities are truly special. Here is a taste of the weekend's gatherings:

Starting on Friday night, there were visitors from Chevak, Mountain, Alakanuk, and Scammon Bay. 

I left around 1:30 am, but I understand it went on until close to 3 am.  

Bush Life

I love the classic Jeff Foxworthy and I think it's time for a comeback. Whoever this next comedian is, I think they should do a "You might be Alaskan if..." or maybe "You might be from the Bush if..." 

Yesterday I realized that I left Marshall School in a four by four truck, hopped on a Cessna 207 airplane, landed in St. Mary's, drove a snow mobile to Mountain Village, then took my ATV to the office to finish out the day. "You might be from the Bush if... You ride a truck, plane, snogo, and four-wheeler on your way to the office."

I love the Bush, I genuinely do. My water has been on for a week or so now, which is phenomenal. I am blessed with a great job and work with amazing educators. I have a warm home and have wealth beyond measure in my friends and family. I thank God every day for my health and for meeting my every need. I love that the world I live in is beautiful, serene, and so vast it scares me. 

Most people in big cities sit in an hour of traffic a day, at least. You could be in deadly accident at any time. I fly in Bush planes, ride ATVs, and cruise the frozen Yukon at 80 mph. I like my commute... 

"You might be from the Bush if..." 

No Rest for the Weary

These last two weeks have been a wild ride, to say the least... 

Beginning with a full schedule of traveling at sites, I rushed back to Mountain to clean up, wash clothes, and catch a plane to St. Mary's. Heading in to Anchorage, my colleague and I grabbed a rental and hit the nearest sushi spot. In Anchorage for the Alaska Society for Education conference, I had the pleasure of working with the finest educators in Alaska to solve problems and discuss the future of education in Alaska. Learning together I built friendships and networked with individuals that will assist me in my professional growth for many years to come. 

Heading back to the village with 21 days of water in my house since December 14th, I was anxious to find out if I would get a shower once I arrived. Thrilled beyond reason, I found my home in Mountain Village warm and with water! Life is good. 

Never a dull moment, I rolled right in from the airport and went straight to the office. Getting ready for the Site Tech Inservice Friday night through Sunday night there were errands to run, plans to be made, and agendas to be written.  Once everyone arrived there were laughs and stories shared late into the evening. Guitar Hero and Band Hero passed the hours quickly and the inservice days were informative and meaningful. 

Saturday night we decided to gather for some crazy fun on the frozen Yukon by recreating the Harlem Shake... Yukon style!