Net positive – that sounds like a very fine attitude. I usually reside in that arena although at times negativity seeps in and it is hard to toss it aside to move forward. Growing up in an atmosphere of happiness created a foundation for my way of looking at life now.
My parents, both educators, promoted college and careers. I wish now that they had pushed me harder, but perhaps it was actually the right amount. Both of my grandfathers died before my birth, but I envision them as strong and dedicated.
I only had my grandmothers for 10 years (Peggy) and 12 years (Nana) but they exuded determination and independence. Peggy, in fact, was a career woman at a time (1913 onward) when most women did not work outside of the home. She loved being a milliner and made certain that we always wore the finest hats.
Both stressed the value of education for their children, my mom and dad, who attended Washington State University (WSU). This background of education has offered me net positive.
Because I enjoyed school, regardless of subject or instructor, I became a teacher. Of course, this was a logical choice with my mom and dad. From first grade when Mrs. Fisher engrained honesty in my brain to high school with Dad as my frighteningly smart though overbearing matrix algebra teacher, I really liked school.
My senior year we moved to Eureka, Nevada. From a class of 200 to a group of 14, I gained so much. Dad set the school up with the University of Nebraska so that we could take any class of interest. I chose French because of a previous teacher in Idaho and because French rolls gently off of the tongue.
My education continued at UNR. Naturally, my dream school was WSU where I would have pursued medical technology, but Dad convinced me to start in Reno and then I could transfer.
Cleverly, he knew once I began, switching schools would require additional years of coursework plus more money. Then in February of my Freshman year, he died. With my mom now alone in Eureka, a move became less desirable – how could I leave my best friend in Nevada and resettle 800+ miles away? Besides, I found myself emersed in foreign language and a science shift would be tough.
Another educational force was my sophomore year with Candy Oliver. A marvelous gymnast she inspired me in her gymnastic class. Imagine me in my fancy suit swinging from the bars, soaring off the vault, and leaping around on the beam.
Scary! She detailed each technique to her novice class which helped me later in teaching PE. Candy also taught body conditioning. A sprinter in high school, she made me realize the lifelong gift of running and I have been chasing this exercise ever since.
Five plus decades later, my running is not fast, but it is ample. My mind drifts as I cover the miles and plan for the day ahead and far beyond. Many excellent ideas have churned as my feet hit the pavement along with a few other thought that are out of whack. But all in all, running produces net positive for body and soul.
My Great Basin students used to ask which grade level and subject matter I liked the best. My answer revolved around whatever I was teaching at the moment. Ending with 8th grade English, I received gratification from the responses and reflections of my students. Reading to advance thinking and writing to define and explain were two goals and wow! Students constructed marvels.
When we’d read something like The Giver by Lois Lowry I encouraged students to examine key concepts and determine if they were true in the world today, then why or why not. Everything in this banned book happens somewhere and I hoped kids would acknowledge differences around the globe. Agree or disagree – no -problem, but the responsibility became to support a belief. 8th graders are unbelievably insightful. Their exuberance provides long-lasting net positivity.
Net positive builds resilience and the ability to move forward with clear vision. Entanglements may occur, disequilibrium, so to speak, that guarantee that the mind is expanding and new ideas are fomenting. Stagnation is a terrible rut of small ol’/same ol’ that does not promote development, an essential to a growth mindset. How can we cultivate innovative thinking into channels of success if we do not grasp the advantages of net positive?