The Cardinal Way
Sharing the Stories of Southport High School
Leading and Learning: ATTITUDE MATTERS MOST
“If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude.”
--Maya Angelou
If I asked you to stop and make a list of the five biggest problems you are dealing with right now, what would you write? Go ahead and take some time to think about it, and make your list.
What if I told you that with the snap-of-a-finger, all those problems could be gone? What would happen to your list? Do you think it would stay empty, or would it be replaced with a new set of problems that you consider to be the new five biggest issues you are now dealing with?
I would venture to say that everyone would fill that list back up fairly quickly. Life is really good at giving us problems. They are always there, no matter what you do; no matter how smart you are; no matter how positive you are; problems will always exist. That is just the way it is. So, the question is, what problems do you want?
I learned early in raising my own kids that, no matter how annoying or frustrating a stage of their childhood might be, it did no good to wish that stage away. As soon as they grew out of one stage, it was replaced by something equally as challenging, if not more challenging to deal with. The trouble was, once I finally felt like I was getting equipped to deal with one problem in parenting, it changed and I was faced with a new challenge that I was much less equipped to handle.
The same can be said for many challenges in our personal or professional lives. No matter how hard we try, life is always going to throw things at us that we are not expecting and are often not prepared to handle. It took me a long time to realize that everything we do, or encounter in life, often brings changes which in turn can bring challenges. Life is really good at never staying the same and I have learned that it can always get worse. That may sound very pessimistic, but that is not my intention. My intention is to show that we must be honest in our perceptions about our perspective on life. Change is not easy, and change presents problems because we are not equipped with all the answers.
A counter-argument to change, and the problems that come with it, is that it can sometimes lead to becoming stagnant and complacent. Using the thinking: If I do not change, then I will not face the problems change can bring. Avoidance, though, will present its own set of problems. The problems avoidance creates will not be any better than the ones you might face while moving forward and you also remain stuck in the same situation that caused you problems in the first place. Avoidance seems to double the issues.
What the most successful people I have encountered do during times of change that sets them apart is retaining a positive attitude about the change, regardless of the circumstances. They realize their reaction to the change at hand is what makes the difference. Things change, of course they do, but how we react to that change and how we attack problems is our choice. As educators, we are part of a profession of change; and it changes a lot. Ultimately, our job is to make a change in our students. It is our responsibility to be the change. So, change is unavoidable in our profession. In this, the attitude we have each day is the most important thing we bring to our jobs. As educators, our attitude can be buried in comfort, support, trust, inadequacies, and a variety of other deeply personal things. While our attitude is extremely personal, it is never a secret. Regardless of the reasons behind our attitude, we wear it on our sleeves. Our students, our colleagues, our loved ones, can all tell us how positive or negative our attitude is on a minute by minute basis. We always need to remember, our attitude is always our choice; it is always in our control.
There are problems in front of us that take a great deal of time to change. Problems where we will need to play the long-game. We can wish the problems away and replace them with new problems, or we can meet these issues head-on and get to work on finding a solution. The first step is asking- do we truly understand the problems we are dealing with, and then asking how our attitude is impacting the solutions we are striving for in those situations.
In connection to leading with L.E.S.S., one of the most important factors in taking care of ourselves is keeping a positive attitude. When the problems we are facing create a negative attitude, this tends to breed more negativity which drains you and others around you. The better we can control our attitudes in the face of difficult situations, the better chance we have to keep an overall positive attitude that will then impact our life in and out of school in a productive way. We have to control our attitudes.
My challenge to you in the upcoming week is to consider: What problems do you want to face and how does your attitude play a role in the issues?
Keep learning, keep growing, keep sharing!
What it takes to #BeACardinal:
- Ashley Quinlin for her amazing work in securing and support our guest teachers each day!
- James Thorpe. James is our new groundsman and has adapted to the job very quickly. We appreciate James and his efforts in keeping our property looking beautiful!
- our School Counseling office for hosting the FAFSA night this week.
- Cathee Cullison for her work with our Cardinal Cadre to work numerous events as they welcome guests to SHS.
Grateful Friday Challenge
Week 14 Grateful Friday Challenge
Monday we celebrate Veteran’s Day, a day when we honor those who have given, or offer, their lives for the freedoms we so often take for granted. It is around this time of year that I am reminded of a few quotes: Adlai E. Stevenson said, “Patriotism is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime.” On Veteran's Day, and in a period of unrest, it is time to model the dedication of a lifetime to the country we love and call home. I am humbled by our Veteran’s service and reminded of President Kennedy’s asking, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” Let’s end this week trending towards the patriotic positive. For today’s challenge, let's ask ourselves...What can we do? What are we proud of? What are we thankful for?
Today, be thankful for the school that you teach in, the home that you live in, the stores that you shop in, the things that you have, and the things that you don’t but keep working for that provide you with hope and dreams. These blessings are provided to us because we live in a place where others (in many capacities) are willing to serve.
Today, for our #SHSGFC, take the time to write one quick hand-written note to someone you want to thank for their service, for what they do around the school, for making the lives of students in the building better, for making your life better…
A special thank you to those members of our Cardinal Family who have served our country in any capacity.
With banners flying as we go...Let freedom ring!
Be a Cardinal; Change lives; Put a mission into motion!
180 Days of Learning -- #CardsLearn
Brent Keck
Natalie Hendrix-Evans
Chris Finkhouse
Kelsi Cuskaden
Veterans Day in iPass
Educational Humor
Southport High School
Email: bknight@perryschools.org
Website: http://perryschools.org/sh/
Location: 971 E Banta Rd, Indianapolis, IN, United States
Phone: 317-789-4800
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SHSCardinals/
Twitter: @SHS_Cardinals