Grace

It catches you off guard.
Yet its work is like the perpetual moving of the water in a lake.
As the wind causes movement,
stagnation is not permitted,
moving enough to awaken the soul
but not enough for destruction.

Grace is the part that reaches down
when we've place ourselves in an arduous situation.
We cry out in distress
expecting the worst
but Grace offers a hand in love.
Sometimes the hand moves with us,
sometimes it removes us.
Always it is for us.

Grace is unpredictable.
Most recently, He has permitted the struggle.
Rather than remove me,
He let me walk my way.
He let me suffer on my own account.
And He was already waiting when I decided to turn back.
Grace never ceases.

In any case, Grace is a cause for celebration,
for giving thanks,
for shouting from the rooftops,
for true joy!
Grace is foreign, but it is forever here with us.
Grace is difficult, but we are prompted to follow suit, and share.

Grace is found in forgiveness.
He is found in Truth.
Grace is found in patience.
Grace brings about humility and hope.
Grace is love.

Only Boring People Lead Boring Lives!!

I arrived in Dallas and met many of my brothers' friends here on campus. A few hours after meeting them, one friend agreed it was important to do something to keep life interesting!

Temperature in Dallas, TX= around 40*!

An Ode to my Students

Dear Titans, 

Thanksgiving is tomorrow and for 2013, you have stolen second place on my list of thanks. (First place always goes to God's faithfulness toward me, a gal who doesn't deserve it!)

I am thankful for you because you are you. You are all different, with different backgrounds, personalities, interests, families, dreams and motivation; it's perfect!

This year I am most thankful for you because you have shown character beyond any other group I have taught or coached! Friday I spoke with my substitute and he gave you all the highest praise, saying that you were some of the best students with which he has been. I tried to convince him that it wasn't me, rather it was a reflection of your character. 

I do believe it is! You have exemplified what it is to be a great student. How do I know? I have watched you...in my classroom of course- no I'm not a creeper! In my class I have observed students move across the room, without my prompting, to assist another student, encouraging him or her to get the work done and pass! This is phenomenal! I'm not sure you realize it but this is not common for a high school student to take such a role!

I have also seen some thoughtful and creative work turned in this year. State testing demands that students think at a higher level. It's tough. However, I believe that you will be the class that scores the highest so far. You have not shut down when you face the tough questions or challenges in my class, instead, you bravely charge forward and face them head on. It is awesome that you are not afraid to be wrong, and while we have room to be a little more respectful, for the most part your class does a great job at encouraging others to answer even if they are not sure. This is a LIFE skill y'all! That is why I get so excited! To move forward in life, you must have the courage to take a risk, speak up; you must also have the humility to admit and acknowledge when you are wrong, and finally you must use the strength to which you already have access and pick yourself up and press on!

If I'm confident in any Titan, it is you. You who are ready to celebrate each other, you who make wise decisions in class, you who portray great character, and you who make my day brighter. 

I am thankful to have a crew of students who also have a sense of humor. It has been said that "laughter is the best medicine". I believe it. I believe it has made all the difference to me this year. There is no reason we cannot make education interesting and fun, and most of my classes have found a good balance (a couple are still working on it ;)

The absolute greatest piece of thanks I have toward my students goes out to those who have CHANGED! 

It is not an easy thing to change who a person is, and it is even more difficult when that person is yourself! Changing for the better is something few people in the world expect from teenagers. 

I salute you who have sincerely worked at making yourself better. You've adjusted your actions and improved yourself. For some of you that means you started coming to school regularly, no more truancy. Thats HUGE! (And I'm proud of you). For some of you, that means a shift in attitude. I was very proud when a student in my class said, "You don't know how hard it is for me to not cuss you out right now!" Why was I proud? ...because the student DID NOT do it when it would have been easy to spit out a few words! Will I be proud of that in six months? No, because I expect continued improvement, but in that moment, I was very pleased. 

Some of you have been depressed or down for some time (and for legitimate reasons), but you are rising from the ashes, you are choosing life. I see glimpses of light in your eyes and I know you will be okay. You are strong. 

I am also extremely proud of those who have chosen to quit using. In my lifetime I've only been addicted to a few things along the lines of coffee and chocolate; I cannot imagine drugs, especially with the pressure that comes along with it.  Some of you have chosen to jump tracks- you're done, it's over. I admire you because you are choosing what is best for you, even though it may cost relationships, among other things. Man, that's tough. But look at yourself! If you can handle a decision like this and standing firm when people try to pressure you to cave, dang, you have access to the whole world! 

Those who are changing for the good are my heroes and heroines! Remember my video at the beginning of the year? We should BE the change want to see in the world. We don't wait on it, we BECOME it! You are doing that, and as you continue, I pray you will learn to "live life to the fullest, and make a difference along the way"!

There are so many reasons I am thankful for my Titans, too many to count, but I felt it was only proper that my first blog after nearly a year should be on what has impacted me the most, so this is my abbreviated list. 

So here's to you Titans, I raise my glass (of sparkling pear and apple juice) in honor of who you are and who you are becoming. I sincerely hope that who you are in the classroom is a reflection of who you are  becoming in life. 

May God bless you! Thank you for letting me have the privilege of being your English teacher this year!

TiTAN PRiDE!

-Ms. Hatfield