Rejection letters. We have all received them in some form or another. Today I read probably the best advice ever on how to interpret them. Go now and read The Eight Rules of Rejections from Editorial Anonymous. It is terrific, and it made me feel better. Read it and you'll feel better too!
And if reading said entry doesn't help, go out and start an I AM TERRIFIC file. I have had one for years. My first principal suggested I build one from all the positive notes and letters I received from kids and their parents. Her reason? It went something like this. "One day you will feel like the worst teacher in the world, and when you've convinced yourself that you are not worthy and can't do the job any longer, pull out the file and read the words of the child who thinks you're terrific, or the parent who thinks you're the best. You will begin to feel better, and will soon realize that while bad days come with the territory, there are far more good ones ahead. You will also come to know that the work you do is important, even if you only see the impact one child at a time."
When I need a pat on the back or a reminder that I do indeed make a difference in my small corner of the world, I pull out this file, sit quietly in my office and read it from start to finish. Every so often a tear might escape, but these are tears of happiness, and I always close the folder with a smile.
And if reading said entry doesn't help, go out and start an I AM TERRIFIC file. I have had one for years. My first principal suggested I build one from all the positive notes and letters I received from kids and their parents. Her reason? It went something like this. "One day you will feel like the worst teacher in the world, and when you've convinced yourself that you are not worthy and can't do the job any longer, pull out the file and read the words of the child who thinks you're terrific, or the parent who thinks you're the best. You will begin to feel better, and will soon realize that while bad days come with the territory, there are far more good ones ahead. You will also come to know that the work you do is important, even if you only see the impact one child at a time."
When I need a pat on the back or a reminder that I do indeed make a difference in my small corner of the world, I pull out this file, sit quietly in my office and read it from start to finish. Every so often a tear might escape, but these are tears of happiness, and I always close the folder with a smile.
What a GREAT idea! I'm going to suggest this to all of my mentees from now on! It's a little late for me, but what the heck! I'll start one, too!
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