Counselor’s Corner Issue 29

Dear Memory-Makers,

I recently read a story about Carolyn and Kelly who had their 50-year wedding anniversary on March 12th. To celebrate, they recreated their wedding photos from the original 1971 celebration. Having kept their receipts from that day, the total cost was broken down as follows:

Dress: $46.35
Alterations: $8.24
Catering: $63.82 to feed 193 people
Flowers: $131.84
Honeymoon in New Orleans: $91.20 for 4 nights
Gas: $.36/gallon
Photographer: $100 for 3 albums

The marital vow renewal was such a big celebration that Carolyn grew her hair out for three years to replicate the original hairstyle. And, to top it all off, the groom, Kelly, a kidney transplant recipient, gave tribute to his donor during the ceremony. What lengths this couple went to create something meaningful on so little (talk about a shoestring budget!). Why? Because celebrating an achievement down the road makes it all that more powerful!

In reflecting on Carolyn and Kelly, I immediately think of you, teachers, and the lengths you have gone to in order to create such a meaningful school year for your students. You've had very few resources, tools, and prior knowledge, and yet you've spread yourselves thin and run yourselves ragged in order to gift your students a year to celebrate. As I tally up the cost, here's the total as I see it:

"Dressing up" your classroom to fit IDPH standards: Sweat
Altering your lesson plans for virtual instruction: Stress
Catering your instruction for online parents and guardians: Stage Fright
Flowery words to protect students from Covid-19 fear: Sensitivity
No "Honeymoon Period" of basking in the joy of teaching: Sadness
Out-of-gas halfway through the school year: Sleep-deprived

Despite what this year cost you, this is the time to celebrate! This was no small accomplishment and you made it through (although one school year may have felt like fifty!). My guess is that, just like Carolyn and Kelly, in years to come you will look back on this school year and know that the lengths you went to in order to create something meaningful on so little made it all that more powerful!

Celebrating with and for you,
Mindy