It is May, probably the busiest month in a school year. Spring sports come with a flurry as the season is short and often has to compete with the weather to get in all the required contests. Final units, projects, and assessments hit the classroom, and the year’s celebrations are almost every weekend: prom, music concerts, academic acknowledgements, and celebrations. It all culminates with graduation.
Friday night was the spring band concert. I am consistently impressed with what these young musicians produce and the magic Ms. McGorry and Ms. Pallin help them create. This year’s high school band(s) has 14 seniors, and their skill level is obvious as they truly do produce magic. Ms. Pallin’s first year at Spectrum was when they were 7th graders. As she shared her memory of that first class period, I thought about how a music director has the unique opportunity to work with the same set of students year after year after year. The most opportunities any other teacher has is two maybe three courses over the students career. In his opening remarks, Mr. Leland referenced what happens when this occurs: dedication, perseverance, and teamwork, among other traits and skills, drastically develop over the years.
In 2014 Admiral William H McRaven gave a commencement speech at the University of Texas. His words later were put into his book Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life…And Maybe the World. Like Ms. Pallin’s and Mr. Leland’s remarks – and often shared at graduation ceremonies – Admiral McRaven’s words emote memories and ideas that motivate and inspire (HERE is the speech, and the book is even better). From “failure can make you stronger” and “stand up to bullies” to “rise to the occasion” and “you must dare greatly,” the “start your day with a task completed” is the most simple and maybe the most profound: If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed. He goes on to say, It is not an opportunity for praise; it is expected. It is the first task of the day, and doing it right is important. It demonstrates discipline and shows attention to detail. At the end of the day, it is a reminder that something has been done well; it is something to be proud of, no matter how small. It is a constant to count on every day.
What if “making your bed” was “be kind today”? There would still be disagreements, confusion, frustration, barriers, loss, grief. But if it was the first thought of the day, and demonstrating it right was important, if it could be demonstrated with discipline, showing attention to detail, then at the end of the day, it would be a reminder that you had done something well, something to be proud of, a constant to count on every day. Can being kind cause us to pause, to be curious, to seek perspective and understanding, to give and receive support? If you do it, would others then do so as well, knowing It is not an opportunity for praise; it is expected?
These 14 band students learned more and grew more, much more, than just in music over their years at Spectrum. Their “making their beds” over the six years with Ms. Pallin molded them, shaping them into who they now are and who they will become. This is what parents do, teachers do, learning communities do. It is May, a month of “lasts” for the school year, a time to pause and celebrate, so when the Class of 2025 is presented in a couple of weeks, we all recognize their lives have been changed, and they are ready to Maybe do the same in the World.
Noteworthy
- Friday, May 9: Spring Fine Arts Choir Concert @ 5:30pm at Spectrum High School
- Monday, May 12: Final Teacher Professional Development Day - No School