Our amaizng music teacher led students to provide a remarkable musical performance, a performance that included each and everyone of the 65 fifth graders. To put on a performance like that is not an easy feat, and it's an accomplishment that will become a lifelong memory that connects this groups of wonderful fifth graders into the future.
As we participated in this wonderful show's preparation and performance, it occurred to me that to invest in good effort is the way to go. There was such satisfaction helping out with a phenomenal collaborative experience like the fifth grade play, an experience that teaches students a lot about working together, risk, perseverance, practice, and performance, all skills that will be valuable to students in all aspects of their lives.
Afterwards I thought about how satisfying this investment was; it was good work that gave students a valuable experience and valuable skills. I also thought about the fact that too often we waste our time in efforts that are not that meaningful or important, efforts that we may get involved in because we've always done that or it's a ready opportunity. Instead, however, I think we have to be more intentional about what we do and why we do it because when we invest in work that matters, good effort, our work is more meaningful and satisfactory, and our impact is more valuable too.
