I struggled with this prompt. You see, I collect quotes, both on my computer and on my phone in this infamous little thing called the QuotePad. Lately, the QuotePad has become more about funny things that my friends say, but I always keep it around when I'm reading a book or watching a movie to make sure that I can jot down some words of wisdom. I also pin quotes up on my wardrobe, like lyrics from Childish Gambino's "Not Going Back" and or something brilliant from an email my dad wrote to me. But my favorite positive advice? How could I pick just one? And then, just like it always does in my time of need, my iTunes handed me the answer.
Taylor Mali is one of the most well-known spoken word poets in America; he also happens to be my absolute favorite, despite my hipster-like tendencies towards the underground. Mali is a teacher, but more importantly than that, he's an advocate FOR teachers. A lot of this comes out in his poetry. I first heard Mali's stuff in high school at a one-act play being performed at the Florida State Thespian Festival. The director of the show had decided to create a loosely-tied together performance consisting entirely of Mali's poems and set in a school. The show itself was... well, it didn't really make a lot of sense. But the poems, oh, these poems! One in particular hit me pretty hard (because things about cancer and bravery always hit me pretty hard). I downloaded it and two others on iTunes when I got home, and kind of forgot about them, as I tend to do with things that I like. I just like so many things, okay!
Years later, I was having a bit of an identity crisis. I was almost done with my undergrad degree in advertising, but I hated my marketing jobs and most of my classes. The only thing I really loved to do was TA for the American Sign Language program. But did I really want to be a teacher? Did I really want to go into debt and go to grad school to be a teacher? I don't even like kids! I don't want to be stuck in one place! Am I even good at teaching? What does it all mean, Basil? And then, just like it always does in my time of need, my iTunes had something to say about it all.
"I make them understand that if you've got this (brains)
Then you follow this (heart) and if someone ever tries to judge you
By what you make, you give them this (the finger).
Let me break it down for you, so you know what I say is true:
I make a goddamn difference! What about you?"
(full text here)
Was I really doubting my passion because of something as silly as salary? Was I really going to stay stuck in my dead-end industry that I hated because I didn't want to work hard and go to grad school? Was I really questioning my abilities? I knew I was a good TA. My students succeeded. My students liked me. My students became TAs themselves. My students are helping people. Why can't I help people too? Alright, Mr. Mali, I'll teach. I'll make a difference. And I will instill in my students the same passion and drive that you constantly remind me that I have. Everyone deserves to follow their heart. If I'm going to spend the rest of my life preaching that gospel, I better be living it too.
Taylor is also on the quest to create 1000 teachers, and I am proud to say that I am #551 on his list. I told him my story and thanked him for reminding me what's important in life. I wrapped up my little blurb, like I always do, by saying that if a single one of my students chooses a life in education as well, I will consider myself an enormous success. Sometimes I forget all of this, when school is hard or my students are acting up. But then there is this wonderful moment of clarity where a student grasps a concept, or does something noble, or comes to you with an honest question. I'm not willing to give that up. That is why I teach.
"What Teacher's Make" has circulated around the internet anonymously a million times. When asked if he's mad if his work has been quoted and gone uncredited, Taylor said, "If I had to choose between inspiring teachers anonymously or not inspiring them at all, I would choose anonymous inspiration every time." Definitely beautiful.
What about you? What's your favorite positive advice you've found? If you're getting freeky this Friday, you can participate in three different ways:
- Write a blog post using the badge html above, then comment on my post with a link to your post
- Tweet your answer using the tag #FreekyFriday
- "Like" the Freekware Facebook page, then comment on there with your answer
A new month means a new giveaway! Every time you post, tweet or comment in the month of July, you'll be entered to win some Peanut Butter S'mores Bites and a contribution to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in your name. There are four Fridays left in July, so if you blog, tweet, and comment every remaining week, you'll be entered twelve times!
Be sure to come back next Friday, July 15th, and:
Be sure to come back next Friday, July 15th, and:
Share another positivity playlist! What three songs pick you up when you're feeling down?
