The Eternal Optimist

This weekend my youngest daughter performed in a production of Annie. It was a great experience for her and a proud moment for me. When she first started her rehearsals, we talked about the story of Annie. In one of our conversations, I mentioned that one of the reasons the story has remained popular for so long is because Annie is the eternal optimist. To my surprise, my daughter did not know what the word optimist meant. We then had a conversation about what it means to be an optimist and how Annie remained positive during difficult times.

Fist of all, the story takes place during the Great Depression, one of the darkest periods in our nation's history. Next, Annie comes from the lowest point possible.  She is an orphan living in a negative and abusive environment.  In contrast, the person who has "everything", money, power, and success, is the most unhappy.  It's a brilliant twist that the person who should be the most unhappy is the optimist and her energy is so contagious that everyone around her becomes positive. Annie is successful in everything she does because of her positive attitude and her refusal to accept things as they are and looks instead to what they could be.  In many ways, she reminds me of the indomitable spirit of Don Quixote.

Probably the best part of our conversation was hearing my daughter say, "I want to be an optimist like Annie".  As educators, are we teaching our students about optimism?  More importantly, are we modeling optimism for them?  It can be easy to become negative and discouraged given the issues we face in education and the bad press we often receive.  However, that's the time we need to be the most positive and look forward to the great things that are coming our way as we work with students. In a world where negativity is the norm and cynicism is the expectation, let's break the mold and do the unexpected and be eternal optimists.  Our students deserve it and life's too short not to be positive. Like Annie, we need to remind our students when times are tough, the sun WILL come up tomorrow!

My Little Orphan:)

PEARLS OF WISDOM

"Why any kid would want to be an orphan is beyond me." - Miss Hannigan

"You're never fully dressed without a smile." - Orphans

"The sun will come out tomorrow, so you gotta hang on till tomorrow." - Annie

Annie cheers up President Roosevelt and the Nation (3 minutes) - Annie 1982

UPCOMING EVENTS

Monday, October 19: Letters home for Math Club Participants (3rd & 4th grade)
                                  Jon to Rotary 12:00-1:15 pm
Tuesday, October 20: Jon to Wayne-RESA for Admin Meeting 7:30-10:00 am
Wednesday, October 21: IEP Limberg/Fuller 8:30 am
Thursday, October 22: Staff Meeting 8:00 am

Monday, October 26: Before School Math Club begins (Room 18/computer lab) 3rd&4th grades
Wednesday, October 28: Achievement Team Meeting 8:15 am
Thursday, October 29: Staff Meeting 8:00 am
                                     Elementary Principals Meeting 1:00-4:30 pm
Friday, October 30: PTA Trunk-or-Treat Event 6:00-8:00 pm