Labor Day has all but come and gone. School is almost a month behind us. Looking ahead fills my mind with so many emotions.
This blog has shifted focus from everyday topics to those surrounding public education. That was never my intended platform and I have come to realize that in a short two and a-half years (give or take a month), that platform will no longer be my focus. Sure. I will have a new focus. Probably those left lane “huggerz”. This fact saddens me because, when I really face the truth, all that I have been and all that has been the center of my life will be gone. Have I made a difference? I hope so. I always try to leave something better than I found it. No. My name is probably not going to go into any plaque or trophy case. However, since the day my kids started school, I have ALWAYS been involved. Back in the early days, as a PTO member, we had to log our volunteer time. The school tracked it and reported it, for what and to whom I don’t know, but I do know that I logged well over 1100 hours a school year, for 3 years at one school. Dividing my attention between two kids for two of those years. As my kids got older, my volunteer time shifted less in school and more into activities. Between baseball, soccer, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and archery. For three years, I was blessed to work for the school system, allowing me to add some time with my own personal activities, like yearbook and photography. While I got paid for some of that time, I logged a LOT of volunteer time. Before my kids had reached high school, I am pretty sure the hours that I “logged” as a volunteer is now in the tens of thousands. I’ve learned a lot, grown a lot, met a lot of wonderful people and hopefully, left something good for those that followed.
The one thing I have always done is speak up for everyone…not just my kids. It’s no wonder, if you think about it, that this blog turned to focus on education. After all, I’ve been surrounded by it for 13 years. I’ve never attacked anyone personally via this blog or in person. I have firmly stated my opinion…or…version of the situation.
While I sadly look ahead and realize that this whole platform will be behind me, I wish I could make a bigger impact. I LOVE being involved. I feel like there is so much more to do and not enough time. These volunteer driven programs depend on dedicated, passionate, detail oriented, take charge, focused and determined people like me. These programs are awesome and amazingly, they run pretty efficient, given the volunteer turnover rate. However, I can’t help but ponder…how much better I could help make things if I had more time and ability to share with others what I have learned and how my wonderful team has helped. I wish there had been someone to go to over these years. Sure, I found answers and thankfully, got only the proverbial smack on the hand along the way, but to have that person to help….what a dream.
I don’t want to look ahead to even 2015 and certainly not 2017. I don’t think I will have accomplished everything on my list. There’s so much more I can learn and give.
So, to all those volunteers…keep on keeping on! You may feel like you are not making a difference at time, but…rest assured, you are! Educators…thank a volunteer. To hear those words is almost as good as a payday bonus!
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