Possibilities

My principal retired this spring, and at the last staff meeting, she bequeathed the items in her office to the teachers and staff. It was one of those white elephant-type gifting — pass something down to the next generation. Most of the items had to do with tigers (we are the Tigers) and mementos from past years.  My present was a nice wall hanging with an inspirational quote: “Possibilities. The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them into the impossible.” She said she passed it to me because I’m always looking for new possibilities.

At first, I thought, “Yeah! Of course I’m always looking for new possibilities! Why wouldn’t I want to stretch myself and do what I haven’t yet done?” Under her leadership, I have become a literacy coach, gone back to the classroom, applied for other positions in different districts while talking about leaving the state, and asked for many impossible effects. I will continue to ask the new principal for updated technology in the classroom, money to attend conferences and workshops, and different ways to teach concepts with modern books.

What I find most exciting, however, is sharing my writing with my students. The best revision lesson I encountered all year taking out an essay I wrote in college and reading it to my students. Even years later, the class and I found words and phrases that needed revision. It was one of those “teachable moments” when the students gave suggestions and we rewrote my essay together. It was better at the end, too! Now that I’m on a path of regular writing, I will not give up. Even though writing a book may still seem impossible, I am writing; someday, publishing may truly be a possibility.

I’ll learn more this week at the All Write institute. I cannot wait to attend. Just imagine the possibilities!