With the waves of uncertainty surrounding us, I remain steadfast in my commitment to my students. I remain steadfast in my commitment to my family, to myself, and to my dream of positivity. To say that life is stressful would be an understatement. Personal life-changing issues abound, as well as professional ones, yet I remain steadfast in my dedication.
We choose what we portray. We choose the message that we bring. And although life may be very hard, we choose how we deal with it. This time has tested me to the core, and yet I choose to smile. I choose to exhibit hope and positivity, fore I choose to stay above water and not get pulled down. So ask yourself, what do you choose? What do you bring in with you when you show up at work or at home? What is it people will leave your conversations feeling like?
As teachers we affect more than just our students. We affect all the staff in our schools, and we affect how the children entrusted to us, go home and in turn affect their families. We have an immense opportunity and indeed responsibility to have a positive effect on all the paths we cross. So yes, I get how tough it is right now, and no, I am not a saint. I have bad days, I have horrible days, but I cannot focus on those. I have to remember why I am here in the first place; to make a difference, and not a bad one.
We speak of peer pressure as if it is a always a bad thing. I exert my peer pressure but use my powers for good rather than evil. I choose to continue to focus on a message of positivity, of challenging oneself to not be the pebble, and hope that I can influence others to do the same. Perhaps it will be cool again to smile? Perhaps laughing will become the new “it” thing to do. Who knows? I choose to remain dedicated.
Pernille Ripp 
Thanks for your positivity, even in the midst of trials. I choose to interact positively with every single student and parent I interact with. I may fail often, but I make that choice of positive interaction daily. I'll keep making it.
I love this.On top of everything going on outside of our walls, inside we are going through tremendous changes with the opening of a new building. After about 5 months of working hard to establish a healthy community of our faculty, things ended up not going quite as we expected. And attitudes have started to change.Your post is exactly what I have been trying to tell people. We as a faculty have not changed. If we believe in the community we have built, then we must stand up for it. Gossip can only happen if we participate. People will only be negative it we allow it.Sometimes giving that positive peer pressure can be much harder than following the crowd. But in the end, when you have no actions or words to regret, choosing that positive message will make all the difference. Thank you, again, for a great post.
Thank you Tom,I too renew my promise every day to remain positive and there definitely are days where that choice is easier to make, but we must. Pernille
Dear Becky,Thank you for sharing your story, I think our old habits sneak up on us very easily, and ven if we change our environment we must continue to choose the right attitude. I loved your line about gossip, so true, same goes for negative words and misinformation. Choose not to participate and you may be seen as aloof but also as setting an example.