Challenges

In the last few weeks, I have had the opportunity to view life from a different seat than I'm used to. A broken ankle severely limits your mobility, but it does so much more.

The simplest things have become a challenge, such as getting through a door or narrow places. Cooking is impossible (try standing on one foot for 15 minutes) and driving my manual transmission car is forbidden.

I'm thankful that my disability is temporary, but it has raised my awareness to those who have struggles that last a lifetime. We all have things to overcome in our lives; some are temporary and some are permanent. Hopefully through those hard times, we learn lessons or change our perspective and have a greater appreciation for others who have to overcome obstacles in life.

One of the things that Senator Edward Kennedy will be remembered for is his advocacy for those who don't have a voice. Those who are starving, poor, in need of medical help, the homeless, children and the civil rights movement. He put a focused light on these things so everyone else can see them.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112268401&sc=gaw&gclid=CN_kgZfOy5wCFURR2godFDT4Iw

One of the wonderful aspects of being a journalist is that we can show others a perspective that others may not see. We can shine a light on a problem or a concern and teach others that sometimes we DO have influence and compassion for those who obstacles to overcome.

I want you to start thinking about doing a story on someone who has overcome obstacles or someone who has shown great strength in dealing with challenges in life. Someone who is strong in their conviction that despite the fact that they may not have what others have or have to work harder than others that they are an incredible inspiration to us all. Do you know someone like that? Can you think of a story like that?

I'm not talking about someone who has just broken an ankle and has to be in a boot for 8 weeks. I'm talking about things that really bring out the strength in themselves and others. The Crazy Story is a good example. Consider this story of an autistic young man who became his high school's basketball hero.

Comment on this blog what story you have in mind. Surely you know someone who has had to overcome a challenge in life with a strength in them that would make most of us buckle. I'd like to see what kind of journalist you are. Go out there and find a great story and then tell others. Change people's perspective.

Welcome to a new school year!

Welcome To Eagle TV!

Eagle TV is the award-winning broadcasting program here at South Cobb High School and we're really excited to start a new year full of new adventures and REACHING FOR THE STARS!

I hope that you stay tuned to the blog and check out what projects we're working on and news from our studio.

Students in this program learn how to write, interview, shoot video, edit, produce and broadcast all genres of programs, primarily news. Teamwork is essential as well as a strong work ethic. Deadlines are non-negotiable, so students must keep themselves on track and keep producing amazing work. Because of our dedication to our program and our pursuit of excellence, we have garnered three National Student Award of Excellence Awards and two Honorable Mentions from the Southeastern National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (the same people who award the Emmy awards) and three Student Television Network Awards.

We produce numerous community projects through the year in addition to our regular curriculum and students have opportunities to work in the field with professionals every once in a while.

For the past 5 years, a select group of Eagle TV students have attended the national Student Television Network Convention in early spring where they network with news professionals, their peers, take part in rigorous competitions and participate in numerous break out sessions.

The students' experiences build on each other year after year and there is certainly a sense of purpose, ownership and pride in being part of Eagle TV. Let's make this the best year yet!

To my kids....

Teaching is typically thought of as a one-way endeavor.  It's usually a teacher's job to influence students.  We are given the task of molding minds and shaping young people in an effort to ready them for "the real world", whatever that means.  We teach students how to think logically in math and evaluate story lines in literature and how to find Europe on a map in Geography and how to use the scientific method.  We teach foreign language, sportmanship, how to write an essay and how to play an instrument or put together a newscast.  Very rarely is much attention placed on how much students teach their teachers.   So let me turn the tables on you a little and tell you what YOU have done for me.

You teach me how to juggle.  Having 28 students in one class, all doing different projects, all needing my help or attention and most yelling my name asking for keys, or to check out equipment or to tell me that the edit system has a problem, while others need hugs or discipline or to be chased after is tiring and challenging.  Somehow, I manage to keep all the plates spinning in the air, most of the time without dropping one.  Oh, I'll miss someone's request for my attention here and there, but I almost always get to you.  

You teach me patience.  Watching you SLOWLY learn a new skill is more rewarding than frustrating.  I love seeing you get it and get excited about learning something new, even though it takes you 4 days to learn it!  Before I became a teacher, I had little patience for those who took too long to complete a task.  Usually, I'd end up doing it myself.  I've learned from you that if I wait long enough, you'll get it and to step in and do it myself is a disservice to you.

You teach me that I'm needed and loved.  There are days when I come to work not feeling very good about myself or feeling blue and you always are there for me.  Whether it's because you need me to extract a broken tape out of the VCR or because you notice that I'm a little off and you offer a hug, I feel needed and loved. And, also that Jocelyn (Not Kayla!) wrote in the blog that I was needed more.  There is also the flip side of this and that's when you want me to go away and not be in the control room during a show, or not in the hotel hot tub when you're playing truth or dare at the Student Television Network Convention in Orlando!  

You teach me to ask for what I want.  Because your social "filters" are not always well developed, when you want something you ask for it, no matter how ridiculous or out of touch it might be.  That's refreshing.....and the answer is still "no".

You teach me that friendship knows no bounds or limitations.  When I stand before you every day, I look at a sea of faces that represent a mix of differences.  I see black, white, hispanic, small, medium, large, loud, soft, happy, sad, female, male, talkative, quiet, bossy, submissive, social, lazy, active, and more...all learning, sharing, laughing and enjoying each other's company, in and out of my classroom. I hope that you all keep in touch with each other for years down the road.  

You've taught me that relationships are more important than paperwork or meetings.  I can't tell you how many days I've spent in my office trying to get through piles of work when someone asks me to come look at their video that they are proud of and before long, I realize that there are a bunch of us in the edit room talking and laughing and sharing with each other and I've forgotten about that pile of work.  Of course, the work still needs to get done, but spending quality time with you is more valuable to me in the long run.  I'll remember how I felt when I am around you guys long after I've forgotten what that paperwork was all about.

You've taught me that it's safe to sit back and relax and trust.  On those days when I'm not there, I stress.  Will the show go on?  Will you behave?  Will there be a problem while I'm not there?  Nearly every time, I am delighted that you've taken it upon yourselves, to be adult enough to conduct class and the editorial meeting or do a show when no adult is even in the room.  Some of you have even helped the subs from other teachers in my dept.  I've trained you to be self-sufficient and that is a very valuable life skill.

You've taught me that even though I've never had my own child that it doesn't make me any less of a mom.  I can't tell you how much I enjoyed getting mother's day gifts and text messages all day on Mother's Day saying that even though I didn't give birth to all of you that you think of me as a mom.  What an awesome compliment!  I think of all of you as my children.  I love you just as much as if you were my own.

You've taught me that the expression of love takes many forms.  From hugs that you've given me to notes that you've written to me, to things that you've said to encourage me, to Teacher of the Year videos, to all the wonderful things that other teachers tell me that you say about me and each other makes my heart swell with pride and makes me feel like one special individual.

This is always a tough time of year for me (and no, not just because of the senior video!) because I have to let go of my seniors and the class culture we've built over the year has to give way to a new group of students and a new class culture next year.  This year seems especially difficult for me to let go of.  The seniors that are graduating are students that I've become especially fond of and have close relationships with each and every one of you.  I will never forget your support of me as Teacher of the Year, the ice skating, the band trip, the Kangaroo conservation center, the daily grind of getting your stories done, the hoodies, the music videos (Beyonce') ALL the laughter, your phone calls to make sure I was okay when I had pneumonia and the headaches that sent me to the hospital, the STN trip, the stanky leg, the many, many, many memories that we create with each other throughout the year.  You all are my rock and my hard place!

I have the best job ever!  I never had wanted to be a teacher and even after it fell into my lap, I still wasn't sure.  I'm pretty sure now that I'm right where I need to be and feel like it is alternately the most frustrating and difficult, yet rewarding and exciting job anyone could ever have.  I'm very lucky to have such a great group of students to share my life with; and I hope it's a very long life with lots of sharing.  I love you all with all my heart.  Thank you for being in my life.

Tell me your final thought about this class, your classmates, Eagle TV and give us some closing thoughts.  Then, have a GREAT SUMMER!

Waving "see ya"

By now, most of you seniors have gotten every lesson you're going to get out of me. And I hope you've learned something. Even if it's that Watson hates it when you miss deadline then I know you've been listening to me.

I wanted to share with you one last resource because it's not like me to waste ANY time that I have left with you. :-)

http://liveapartmentfire.com/2008/09/23/addition-by-subtraction/

This is an amazing website/blog. It is authored by someone who used to work in television and there are some very good points. Points that I hope you've heard in one form or another from me. I hope that those of you who go into journalism in one form or fashion bookmark this page and refer to it often. You never stop learning, you know.

Always try to make yourself better, whether it's journalism or plumbing or fashion design. If you stop learning and improving, you stagnate. Have you ever smelled stagnant water? Yuck!

And you know that I'll always be there for you if you need me, but please call first! I've always lived my life with a huge IN Box. Type A. I can't relax, but I'm learning how, slowly, but the odds that you'll catch me on a day when I have nothing to do but catch up with you is rare.

This is a really hard time of the year for me. I get incredibly sad because I have to wave "see ya" to a lot of students that I've grown incredibly fond of. I always hope that I get to see you again and keep in touch, but sometimes that doesn't happen. Sometimes I get visits for a few years and then those visits slowly taper off and I become a mere blip on the radar of your life.

That's okay, I guess. The whole idea of what I do for a living is to get you outta here. But being the sensitive, sentimental type, I forge these relationships with everyone of you in a very unique special way that I will always hold in my heart and it is bittersweet to see you go. I promise that I won't forget how we had fun in Eagle TV. I may forget our specific conversations, but I won't forget our relationship.

Let me know in your comments what you learned from me this year and what you would've liked to have learned more of but didn't. Tell me if I gave you what you needed as a BVP student or even as a person. What did I give you that was valuable. Promise that you will keep learning, over the summer and over the years and for those of you who are coming back next year, what do you need me to teach you next year?

So, do me proud, keep in touch and remember that to all of you, it's not goodbye....I'll just wave "see ya".

Book Covers....

I'm sure most of you have seen this link by now:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

Most of you probably don't think much of it, but it holds a lot of meaning for us here in Eagle TV.  Let me explain.

First of all, and most obviously, you should never judge a book by its cover!  Susan Boyle had everyone in the audience, the judges panel and everyone sitting at home poised to hear another disastrous rendition of "insert popular song here".  We were all incredibly surprised.  Why were we surprised?  What made us think she couldn't sing?  Her appearance, right? As if appearance has anything to do with the ability to sing.  We all pre-judged her.  Shame on us. 

In all the "life lessons" we've gone over in class, I'm sure this was one of them, but I do distinctly remember a certain lecture about interviewing.  In it, I said, "don't let your opinion of your interviewees looks, mannerisms, speaking, thoughts, feelings, or demeanor cloud your objectivity about them."  This is good advice for a reporter and good advice for us all.  

The Susan Boyle singing example holds another lesson for us here at Eagle TV:  that of letting your talents shine.  Let us all see how creative, talented and special you are.  Don't hide it. 

Susan Boyle was asked by Simon why she hadn't pursued a career in singing and she said that no one had given her a chance.  The truth is....she never seeked out opportunity.  You can't just wait around for someone to discover how good you are at something.  You have to take chances and put yourself "out there".  Let us see how good you are at.....editing....shooting.....producing ....writing....story-telling BY SHOWING US.  Don't wait for us to discover you because it may never happen.  Don't hide it.  Get up on "on stage" and show off a little!

What are you good at in video production that you haven't really shown anyone?  What do you think you'd be good at, given the chance to try?  Why haven't you pursued this?  How can you improve?  What do you want to be really good at in video production?  What do you want to be really good at in life?  What are you doing to make sure people see and hear you?  Are you taking steps to put yourself in a position of showing off your excellence?  What are you afraid of?  

All it takes is a brief walk up on stage.