How you approach the finish line depends on the contest, endeavor, or journey you're involved in. The finish line for a family celebration might be a game, a movie, or simply a conversation about how the event went. The finish line for a big project may be the project presentation, and the finish line for the school year might be a celebration.
Keeping the finish line in mind helps us to successfully push through the final efforts at the end of any endeavor. Yesterday I reminded students about this as some began to lose their patience. As I listened to a few unkind ideas and observed uncooperative acts, it was clear that the children were a bit weary--they've been putting forth extraordinary effort in the past few weeks and it showed in their sluggish activity and less thoughtful behavior. I told them that sometimes at the end of any big effort, people get tired and cranky, and that's not the way we want to end the school year. Instead we want to be kinder to each other and ourselves so that we don't lose sight of the great year it's been and the great year we've had. They heard me, relaxed, apologized to each other, and had a positive restart to the day.
As I think of the many finish lines ahead for my family and me, I am aware of what matters. Approaching the finish line means a change of perspective and attitude.
First, approaching the finish line means positive self coaching about what matters--make sure the finish line looks the way you want it to look. We did that yesterday as students and educators worked to set up the gym for today's Global Changemakers celebration, and it means that the work starts and the celebration begins today--now it's time to celebrate the great reading, research, imagination, writing, illustrating, costumes, and digital composition that went into the project. It's time to marvel at what positive, collective study can produce with regard to pride, performance, and learning.
Next week will give us the chance to work up to the Global Cardboard Challenge Arcade finish line--a line when fifth graders entertain the school children with a large number of cardboard and recyclable play spaces and arcade games throughout lunch recess.
And the final day of school will give us a chance to celebrate fifth graders K-5 experience at our school--a slideshow with pictures of their early years up until this year, Memory Books, and a clap-out. That finish line with be a time for smiles, storytelling, and fun.
The final teacher day is a day to clean-up the room, say our good-byes, and show gratitude to so many who have helped make this a wonderful school year.
At the finish line you want to be able to say, I did the best I could to do a good job with and for others--a job of reverence, good effort, and collaboration. Onward.
