“The smallest deed is better than the greatest intention.” –John
Burroughs
2017 is over. We have wrapped up our fall semesters,
received our final grades, said goodbye to our December graduates, and now it’s
time to welcome 2018. As we enter into our spring semesters, we may find
ourselves setting new goals or continuing to work toward the ones we set back
in September. Either way, the month of January sets the tone for a time of
self-reflection. Was I successful last year? What could I have done
differently? Was I effective in promoting a positive change in the world around
me?
If you’re asking yourself these questions, chances are you
were and still are making a difference, and I congratulate and admire you.
Others may find themselves avoiding these questions, hiding their faces in
books and distractions – myself included. For me, that time ends now, and I
invite you to join me in evaluating how we can be better in 2018.
Educate yourself
As Student PSEA leaders, we pride ourselves on the amount of
professional development we provide our members at the local, region, and state
level. As members, we highlight our membership on our resumes as proof of our
continuous efforts to educate ourselves on the newest research regarding
education policy and pedagogy. But we can do better.
As aspiring educators, we can do more to educate ourselves
on the social injustices that affect our school children. Issues such as
bullying, the School to Prison Pipeline, and the elimination of DACA are
hindering students’ abilities to achieve and perform in and out of the
classroom. By educating ourselves on these issues, we can actively advocate for
their rights to a quality education, regardless of race, gender identity,
sexual orientation, religion, immigration status, or ZIP code.
Be politically active
In 2017, Student PSEA ran our first petition to encourage
the Pennsylvania State House and Senate to oppose President
Trump’s plan to eliminate the DACA program and create a quick replacement of
DACA in Pennsylvania. The idea was created by Alison Chapman, the Southeast Region
Student PSEA PACE chair. When asked what inspired the idea, Ali explained, “It
is our legal responsibility as public-school teachers to provide an education
to any student that walks through our doors, regardless of their citizenship
status.”
Thanks to
Ali, we ended 2017 with 268 signatures, and Student PSEA has now been more
active than ever in advocating for all students’ rights. We can continue to do
more by contacting our representatives about laws and policies affecting our
children, and, in 2018, we can vote to re-elect a pro-public education
governor.
Help out in your
community
Our most successful project every year is the annual Outreach
to Teach project at our state conference. In 2017, we helped create a positive
learning environment in the Cornell School District, and now in 2018, we will
bring our service to the Tyrone Area School District. However, there are
hundreds of communities across our state that could use our help in more ways
than just painting murals.
Getting involved in your local community can create long-lasting
relationships that benefit the children who live and learn there. If your
community needs a mural project done, go ahead and help out! If not, or if
you’re looking for something more to do, think outside of the box and look no
further than the people that live around you. Host a block party, run an
afterschool program, or simply support local businesses. Our charity does not
need to end when we leave conference this spring.
Be a leader who
serves
A servant leader is someone with a will, a passion, and a
drive to advocate for something they believe in – someone who works with
members to advance a common goal. They lead by example and choose to love
intentionally, meeting the needs of those they are leading and influencing
those around them. They cultivate new leaders and ensure that the future of
their organization is in better hands than their own as they move on.
Everyone in Student PSEA is a servant leader, whether it is
in our association, in our classrooms, or on our college campuses. We all have
the power and the responsibility to bring positive change through the simple
action of loving intentionally and inspiring a bright future. We are Student
PSEA, and we are the change.
This past year, I’ve made mistakes, but have no regrets.
While I was at my lowest, I watched others rise above and find their passions
to lead and serve, and I realized that what makes Student PSEA so great is our
unity and our strength from standing together. The best advice I have ever
received was from NEA Student Program Chair Ashley Muscarella, a dear friend of
mine:
“Find comfort in the
discomfort.”
In order for us to grow as humans, we have to allow
ourselves to become uncomfortable. We must push ourselves to the limit and
challenge the way we view ourselves and the world around us. By being mindful
and intentional with our thoughts and actions, we can bring and inspire change
in 2018.
“I would like to be known as an intelligent woman, a
courageous woman, a loving woman, a woman who teaches by being.” –Maya Angelou
Happy New Year, Student PSEA!
In Solidarity,
Marie Hutchings
Student PSEA President
