MiddleView

I’ve been thinking about a keynote I have to give at a conference next March – the theme will be “Sailing the White Water Years: Straight Jacket or Life Jacket”.  When I first saw this, a memory came flooding back – my first - and for a long time, only - experience with white water rafting.  While I won’t bore you with the details, I will say while it was not exactly a life-threatening experience, I was profoundly grateful for the lifejacket that kept me afloat when the raft and I parted company.

As middle level leaders, we are surrounded by turbulence on a regular basis – face it, it comes with job of being around young adolescents for most of the day!  And while sometimes they can make you crazy enough to need a straightjacket, it’s the life jacket that keeps us afloat and coming back day after day.  So, what’s your life jacket made of?  Here are a few of the materials in mine!

Humor – It’s a necessity when you’re around middle school students.  At times their honesty and candor (especially about a new haircut or new clothes) can be cutting unless you find the humor in it and are able to laugh at yourself.

Attitude – It took a while, but I finally learned the only thing I can really control is my response to a situation.  Keeping a positive outlook, despite the circumstances, makes all the difference in the world.

Friends – Having people in and out of the workplace that you can trust, confide in, and use as a source of feedback is essential to staying on top of all that you do.  

A Strong Network – No one quite understands your job like someone who’s doing it or has done it.  Developing a collegial network gives you people to ask when advice when needed or when you just want to be reassured you’re not the only one who has been in a particular situation.

A Life Outside of Work – Easier said than done.  Being a school leader can be so time consuming but to keep your sanity, you have to find time for things you enjoy that are not work-related – time with family, hobbies, exercise, etc.

Stay Healthy – Exercise, eat right, get enough, sleep, drink lots of water, etc.  The job is hard enough when you feel great, but on those days when you’re not feeling well, it’s more than exhausting.

Next time you feel like you're sinking, remember to use "your" lifejacket in order to stay afloat amid the rough waters of working with young adolescents.