Author: Cassandra Troughton

Education, Kids

Student Celebrations: How I Spent My Time During The Last Week Of School

Cassandra Troughton

Last week was the LAST week of school for the year!

And…

Even though I’m no longer an Educational Assistant working in the classroom, I still made time to visit my students before we said goodbye for the summer.

In fact…

During the final 2 days of school….

I basically spent all day on both days with my students!

It was a busy week. With lots of events!

Events that I just could not miss.

Grade 9 Farewell

This year, I worked primarily with Grade 9 students. This was my first year ever working with this age group!

I couldn’t miss their graduation…

It made it even easier to attend the whole night because my boyfriend ended up DJ’ing their Farewell Dance! 😛

It was a special day – setting up for the event, visiting my students, and of course…

Encouraging them to get their booty’s on the dance floor for one final evening with Miss T!

It was so amazing to watch them let loose and not care about what others were thinking of their dance moves.

I had my worries…

For a grade of students who spent all of their Junior High Years navigating COVID… who never got to experience school dances… who spent the last couple years social distancing…

They were able to put the last 2 years behind them and celebrate their hearts out…

My heart was bursting..


In between the ceremony and dance, I gave my Grade 9’s a Farewell gift. Something to remember me by, and to help guide them over the summer and over their High School Years.

I gifted them with my Gratitude Journal for Teens.

I was waiting for this moment all year!

I created this journal with THEM in mind. They were my inspiration.

And it was so fulfilling to be able to present them with my journal and a personal note written to each one of them by me.

They changed my life. They helped me grow. I wanted them to know that before they took off to High School.

That they too, had made an impact on me…

The LAST DAY OF SCHOOL!

That meant more celebrations! We capped off the year with a Talent Show AND MORE dance parties!!

The day began back at my old school to watch the Talent show.

It was inspiring to see all of these kids muster up the courage to expose themselves on the stage in front of the whole school.

Kids are amazing. They surprise me each and ever year.

I got to watch kids of all ages from grades 4-9 display their talent for the whole school to see!

Tears were most definitely shed…

It was a beautiful ending to the crazy first year at this brand new school.

After the talent show, I headed over to our younger sister school for…

ANOTHER DANCE PARTY!!

That my boyfriend DJ’d once again! 😛

(In fact, he’s basically the Edmonton Public School Boards resident volunteer DJ :P)

When my Elementary School – Sherwood – closed down last year, the younger students (Kindergarten-Grade 3) went over to this school.

It was a beautiful reunion!

I spend the afternoon reconnecting with old students and dancing our little hearts out! Again… 😛

It reminded me how much a miss the younger grades…

I felt very grateful to be a part of their special event for the last day of school.

But… The Day Didn’t End There…

After the dance party at the K-3 school, I drove back across the street (good thing these schools are close!) and spent the last hour and a half wandering the halls of my 4-9 school giving out goodbye’s, see you later’s, and big bear hugs!

Some of my students would be returning, when others would not.

It hurts my heart a little not knowing when I’ll see them next (and if I’ll see them next).

But…

I’m grateful to have made an impact while I could.

I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to be in some of their lives – even if only for a short while.

I know these kids will do amazing things one day!

If they continue to follow their hearts and live life with kindness in mind.

Happy Summer my friends!

With love,

Miss T.

Health / Wellness, Mental health, Mindset, Self-care, Stress / Anxiety

Meaning Making Machines: Do You Filter The Stories Your Brain Tells You?

Cassandra Troughton

Do you notice that your brain comes up with stories?

You’re having lunch with a friend and theres a couple at another table getting into a heated conversation. You can’t actually hear what they are saying but… their faces and body language says it all.

Your mind automatically fills in the blanks.

It begins coming up with stories about what the couple could be arguing about.

“Maybe she caught him checking out the waitress…”

“Or maybe she spent a little too much of their money on those heels..”

No matter how ridiculous or unlikely the story we come up with is, our minds are willing to create it.

Our Brains Are Meaning Making Machines!

Our brains are designed to close loops. It fills in the gaps of missing information as if it is fact.

They label a story as either positive or negative.

But, do you notice….

Our brains lean towards labelling the negative, more catastrophic side of things?

Our Brains Are Designed to Help Us Survive, NOT Thrive…

The brains key function is to keep us safe and out of danger.

This kept us safe when days were simpler….

“Oh snap, that lion is approaching me with hunger in his eyes, I must escape…”

These days, it has definite downsides….

Debilitating, even.

I watched a video recently by Alex Hormozi who perfectly explains the downsides of labelling situations as positive or negative – especially when it comes to our Mental Health…

We See Experiences As Two Opposing Sides of a Spectrum

We label moments in time as either:

  • Good or Bad
  • Happy or Sad
  • Relaxed or Stressed

The problem is, when an experience isn’t ideal, our brains label it as a “negative experience.”

It kicks into survival mode. It tells us that this negative experience is “bad or wrong.”

It wants us to escape it – often by taking medication, or finishing off that 6-pack in the fridge…

The thing is….

These “negative experiences” aren’t bad at all….

They’re What Makes Us Human!

It is okay – in fact – normal to experience both highs and lows.

It’s part of the human experience.

It is a blessing to feel so many emotions – We need not condemn ourselves when we are feeling low.

So, Is Being Human The Problem?

Not at all!

Feeling a range of emotions – ups and downs – is human nature.

Just like it’s our brains nature to help us survive – even if that means telling us irrational explanations to an experience.

It’s up to us to decipher if the labelling going on in our brains is rational or not.

(Hint: most times… its not)

Man’s Search For Meaning

Alex Hormozi ended off his video by sharing a little piece of advice from this book by Viktor E. Frankl…

Viktor E. Frankl – for those who do not know – was a Holocaust survivor. He survived the Auschwitz Concentration Camps in Nazi Germany. His family did not…

In his book, he shares his experiences as a prisoner and the revelation he received about life and suffering.

Viktor’s message is simply this:

“Between our circumstances and our responses, there is always CHOICE.
Suffering is OPTIONAL.”

This is coming from a man who has been through the worst of the worst.

Even he can find meaning in suffering.

The key is not eliminating emotional distress or negative experiences, but accepting it as a part of being human.

And being able to find meaning in the madness.

With love,

Miss T.

If You’re Interested In The Alex Hormozi Video I Was Referring To In This Post,

You Can Check Out The Video Below!

Health / Wellness, Mental health, Mindfulness, Mindset, Stress / Anxiety

How To Protect Yourself From The World’s DEADLIEST Disease: Fear

Cassandra Troughton

Fear – What is its purpose?

Experiencing fear is part of being human. It was built into our operating system to keep us safe.

When our lives are threatened, our stress response triggers us into ‘fight or flight’ mode to quickly expel the danger from our presence.

These short-bursts of fear are essential for our survival.

But, What Happens When our Fear is Constant?

While short bursts of fear are meant to keep us safe, living in fear does the opposite…

When our sympathetic nervous system (‘fight or flight’) is triggered for long periods of time, we feel its detrimental affects.

Our bodies are not meant to sustain this mode for long.

Our bodies CANNOT sustain this mode for long.

So, what actually happens to us as a result?

Fear Reduces Our Body’s Ability To Function

In ‘fight or flight’ mode, our body suspends energy that is needed for other parts of the body. It directs all energy towards the perceived threat.

When the threat disappears, our body returns to normal, sharing the energy among the body’s systems.

But when the threat does not disappear…

When we are always fearful of something….

Our stress response hoards that energy.

It leaves nothing for the rest of the body to function properly.

Our Immune System Takes a Hit.

Our immune system doesn’t receive any energy to produce the cells it needs to keep our bodies safe.

Our ability to fight off diseases and infection is reduced significantly!

We become prone to illness.

The Whole World is Living in Fear…

And while there is lots to be afraid of, accepting a life of stress is not serving anyone. It does not serve YOU!

People are afraid because they want to stay safe.

But fear is what is preventing safety…

So… What Can We Do to Keep Our Fears at Bay?

Here are a few tips to get you started!

Tip #1: Turn off the News!
Although the news is supposed to keep us “informed,” it also sends constant messages of worry and fear into our brains. The news turns fear into a part of our subconscious.

I promise, it will not kill you to turn off the news every now and then… in face, it might SAVE you!

Tip #2: Social Media Detox!
I get it, social media is another way we stay “informed,” but constant scrolling on social media is another way of penetrating more fearful news into our brain and subconscious.

It also promotes comparison. We compare ourselves to others. We get depressed over all that we lack. But, we see only the “best” of peoples lives on social media – not necessarily their REAL life…

Tip #3: Get Outside in Nature!
Reconnect with the real world! Being in nature, we get out of our own heads and away from our fears. Nature takes us to the present moment.

Nature also triggers the parasympathetic response, which is the opposite as our stress response! This allows our body and minds to rest, relax, and restore energy.

Ahhh! Just what we need!

Living in Fear is Not Keeping Anyone Safe.

Get out of your head and into the present moment…

Let the present moment lead you to wellness…

With love,

Miss T.

Health / Wellness, Mental health, Mindfulness, Self-care

You Or Your Breath… Who Control’s Who?

Cassandra Troughton

Did you notice your breathing today?

Chances are, you’ve been breathing unconsciously your whole life. Without ever thinking about it.

And why should you have to start breathing consciously now?

Your Reptilian Brain, which Controls your Instincts, Automatically Signals your Body to Breathe.

You don’t ever have to think about it.

Or do you…?

You might not… but you should!

Why?

Even though our Reptilian Brain does a good job of keeping us alive, all the stress in the world makes for shorter and shallower breaths.

The Reptilian Brain is keeping us alive by keeping us breathing… but that doesn’t mean it keeps us breathing well…

Not in the long term, at least…

Stress is Everywhere These Days…

With all of this added stress, our breathing has changed.

We no longer fill up the entirety of our lungs when we inhale…

And we don’t fully empty out our lungs on the exhale…

We miss the opportunity to get the most amount of oxygen delivered to our bloodstream. And to the rest of our bodies.

Without the proper amount of oxygen delivered to the body, it lacks the ability to function optimally.

Lack of oxygen contributes to:

  • Ramped up Nervous System – more stress.
  • Reduced Immune Functioning – more sickness.
  • Decreased Functioning in the Heart, Brain, and other Organs – a whole lot more stress and sickness.

Our Body Systems are Connected.

Connected by our breath.

We need to stop taking our breath for granted.

Our breath is our life force.

It isn’t something we can afford to forget about.

The key to health: Remember to notice your breathing.

And then breathe like your life depends on it.

Because…

… It does.

With love,

Miss T.

Compassion, Kindness, Mindfulness, Mindset

The Only Sure Path To Happiness: And The Biggest Mistake Most People Make When it Comes To Making Others Happy

Cassandra Troughton

“Why should my happiness depend on the thoughts going on in someone else’s head?”

– Ralph Waldo Emerson

I didn’t always understand this.

I grew up in a world that promoted caring so much about others opinions. Caring about fitting in at school. Caring about fitting in with co-workers at the new job.

I used to adopt this mindset too.

I cared a little too much about what others thought of me.

So much so that I would stuff my opinion to prevent any friction.

This Mindset Becomes Rooted in Our Subconscious.

Before long, we stuff our truth and change who we are just to fit without thinking too much of it…

It becomes a natural reaction.

It took me a long time to break free from this mindset (Still not perfect, but I’m working on it).

To understand that I’m my own human and my happiness should not depend on what other think of me. What their perceptions are. Or their pre-conceived notions.

It is only their perspective after all.

Perspective is Only Perspective.

Not absolute truth.

Maybe that persons truth… but it’s not mine.

And so, no one, not you or I, should have to change themselves or hide their opinions just to fit in. To care about what someone else thinks. To make that person happy.

You deserve to be you.

And I deserve to be me.

That is the only real path to happiness…

Being Our Authentic Selves.

With love,

Miss T.

Compassion, Health / Wellness, Mental health, Mindfulness, Mindset, Self-care, Stress / Anxiety

Teens Have It Rough: Help Your Teenager Navigate Tough Waters With This All-In-One Gratitude Journal!

Cassandra Troughton

Teenagers Sure do Have it Rough…

For them, life is a balancing act.

  • Balancing stress from all the social pressures…
  • Struggling with confidence and self-acceptance…
  • Questioning their place in this world…

They have to deal with all this (and more) with an under-developed brain.

Their brains are STILL a work in progress…

I look at that list (even with my developed adult brain) and know I’d be struggling balancing all of that too…

So What Can We Do?

How can we help them navigate through this tricky spot in life?

I asked myself these very same questions at the beginning of this school year…

Because this School Year, I Found Myself Neck-Deep in the Middle of Grade 9 Classroom Waters…

This classroom was filled with some complex kids with complex needs…

I wanted to help them…

The way I wish someone helped me back then…

They desperately needed certain skills…

Skills that would help them THRIVE, instead of just SURVIVE…

This is why, after much thought and a lot of field research (testing the waters of my Grade 9 classroom), I came up with a way to help my students build an essential skillset!

A skillset that would help them, not only, navigate the rough waters of Junior High, but also prepare them for life (and develop their brains along the way)!

Introducing…
The Kids Yoga Stories Gratitude Journal for Teens!!

Okay, but what makes this Gratitude Journal so special?

How is a gratitude journal supposed to help our struggling Teens…?

Well, THIS journal is MORE than just any old Gratitude Journal…

In fact, it helps Teens develop qualities and skills like:

  • Emotional Regulation and Stress Management
  • Confidence and Self-Esteem
  • Empathy and Compassion for Themselves and Others
  • Positive Self-Talk and and Self-Acceptance
  • Forgiveness and Perspective Shifting
  • And of course, Expressing Gratitude and Feelings of Appreciation

How Does One Journal Do All of This?

It provides regulation strategies, like Breath of the Month and Mindful Colouring, to manage stress and anxiety – tools that Teens can use for life!

(I don’t care who you are, you can’t tell me Teens are “too cool for school” to colour… My field research says otherwise! :P)

The Weekly Positive Affirmations promote positive self-talk, self-acceptance, boosts confidence and reminds Teens to show themselves compassion. We are all just human, after all.

The Gratitude Questions and Challenges are thought provoking and help shift perspective in Teens. They begin to understand their place in the world and have appreciation for whats going on around them.

This Interactive Journal provides a creative outlet for Teens to get thoughts and worries out of their heads. Getting things out on paper gives Teens the chance to reflect on experiences and even learn from them.

Plus, we already know that when our Mental Health improves, so does our overall health! This translates to other parts of our lives.

And Teens will benefit for years to come!

But Why?

Why Did I Decide To Create A Journal For Teens Unlike Any Other?

Well, I’d like to ask you this…

Do YOU remember what it was like being a Teenager?

I sure do…

And when I met my Grade 9 students on that very first day, I saw myself in all of them.

All of my insecurities…

All of my worries…

All of my struggles trying to fit into the world…

I Barely Got By My Teen Years

I wasn’t about to let that happen to these kids.

So…

I asked myself,

“How would I have helped MYSELF back in my Teen years?”

“What supports did I desperately need?”

DIY: Gratitude Notebooks

A few students and I put together personal notebooks filled with gratitude, breathing and calming strategies, affirmations, and other random thoughts!

The note books were amazing, but they just weren’t quite enough…

They weren’t as organized as I would have liked.

They weren’t as appealing to the Teenager who is concerned about appearance.

So….

I took all of these lessons I learned from my Gratitude Notebooks,

All of the lessons from my Teenage students,

And all of the lessons from reflecting on my Teen years,

And turned them into the beautiful…

Kids Yoga Stories Gratitude Journal for Teens!

KYS Teen Gratitude Journal

“It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are…”

The Kids Yoga Stories Gratitude Journal for Teens helps teens develop the courage to be who they really are.

So they can be who they are really meant to be…

With Love & Gratitude,

Miss T.

If You are Interested in Helping Your Teen Navigate Tough Waters…

Check out the Kids Yoga Stories Gratitude Journal for Teens!

Get Your Copy Here!

Twelve weeks of Gratitude Journal Prompts, Reflection Questions, Breathing Exercises, Positive Affirmations, and more!

This Journal Also Includes:

  • A NEW Gratitude Question EVERY DAY
  • Weekly Mandala Colouring Pages (That Double as Positive Affirmations)
  • Inspirational Quotes for Each Day of Prompts

Here Are What Some Teens Had To Say About The
Kids Yoga Stories Gratitude Journal:

“I would buy 8 copies of this journal if I could…”

-Grade 9 Student

“Can you let me know when this journal comes out so I can get my parents to buy it?”

-Grade 7 Student
Get Your Copy of The KYS Gratitude Journal For Teens Here
Education, Kids, Mental health, Mindfulness, Stress / Anxiety

The Hard Truth you Need to Know about Teaching: How to Create More Time

Cassandra Troughton

“I just don’t have the time…”

“How am I supposed to squeeze anything else into my day…?”

Things I hear in Education..

And I get it, Teachers have a lot on their overflowing plates.

They are more than just Teachers – they feed kids when they’re hungry and console them when they’re hurt.

Days become overwhelmed with to-do’s and then suddenly… its JUNE! And we’re cutting it close on deadlines.

But if we invest a little extra time, into the RIGHT things, it is possible to get some teaching time back!

Let’s take a quick peek into our classrooms…

Teacher’s at the front, attempting to get through her math lesson.

Attempting… because we know her lesson is not going according to plan.

We have Johnny in the front, raising his hand every 2 minutes to interject with a concern. Bianca is noisily tapping on her desk, frustrated because she just doesn’t get math. Will snapped his pencil and is this close to flipping his desk if he has to painstakingly sit through another minute of this class…

Classrooms are overrun with interruptions.

Sometimes, as Educators, we feel so short on time, that we push through our lessons and don’t necessarily deal with the underlying issue…

The Disregulation…

The stress, the frustrations and the anger…

And the truth is… Kids aren’t learning if they are not REGULATED.

To understand that, we need to know how our brains work.

When information enters our brain, either from something external (like a lesson) or from our internal emotions (fear, anger), this information travels from the bottom up.

  1. The Brain Stem, into

  2. Our Limbic System (Emotional brain), and then

  3. The NeoCortex (Thinking brain)


But… when students are disregulated, then information cant travel past our brain stem, our primitive brain…

Think of it as electricity flowing in a circuit. If our regulation “switch” is turned off… no electricity is getting to the “light bulb” part of the brain.

The upper parts of their brains aren’t on.

They can’t use their emotional brain to relate to your lesson… And they most definitely can’t use their thinking brain!

So, what’s the point in stressfully pushing through a lesson if our students wont remember or relate to it…?

We Need Regulation!

And how do we do that?

By taking a little bit of time to mindfully teach regulation strategies!

When our kids become disregulated, but are PREPARED in handing it. We can redirect back to our lesson quicker.

The interruptions become minimal…

And we have a more effective lesson…

All because we invested a little bit of time turning our students brains on.

Here Are Some Easy-Peasy Strategies To Get You Started:

#1: Deep Belly Breathing (and more breathing exercises)

#2: Journalling or Creating Art

#3: Gong for a Walk (even better if it’s outdoors!)

Wishing you the best of luck!
(I just know you can do it!)

With love,

Miss T.

Education, Health / Wellness, Kids, Mental health, Mindfulness, Stress / Anxiety

Education Problems 101: How To Practice Mindfulness When You Just Don’t Have The Space

Cassandra Troughton

I get it…

Space is limited!

We don’t all have cozy corners, or carpet spaces in our classrooms… Some of us don’t even have classrooms!

This was my challenge too…

As an Educational Assistant, I didn’t have my own classroom. No place to practice Mindfulness with my students. No place to put my Mindfulness “tools”.

But, I Had A Dream…

I wanted to teach students Mindfulness techniques and get my message out to the school.

I felt it was too important of a dream to just forget about because I was lacking one crucial aspect…

So, how did I overcome this challenge?

How did I bring Mindfulness to my students WITHOUT the space to do so?

I Got Creative…

Accepting that there was a challenge was Step #1!

CHOOSING to find an alternative and face it head on was Step #2!

We don’t often get past Step #1 – Our subconscious holds onto the message that there isn’t always a way around a problem.

BUT…

There is ALWAYS another way! There is ALWAYS an alternative!

All you have to do is a little creative thinking…

For me, this meant introducing…

The Mindfulness Bin!

The Mindfulness Bin was a lightweight bin that held all my Mindfulness tools.

Because I couldn’t hold Mindfulness in one classroom, this bin needed to go ANYWHERE I needed to go.

Sometimes Mindfulness Club took place in the music room, or outdoors. Sometimes it was help in the gym, or in a spare classroom.

Students LOVED to be “Mindfulness Bin Leaders” – They took such pride in hauling our little bin around.

The Mindfulness Tools that you’d be likely to find in my Mindfulness Bin were:

  • Sit Spots
  • Breathing Activities Book
    (Breathe Like a Bear by Kira Willey)
  • Mandala Colouring Pages
  • Pencil Crayons
  • Breathing Stars
  • Talking Stick
  • Sand Timer
  • Activity Cards (Breath Work/Yoga Cards)
  • Self Check-In Cards & Erasable Markers

Maybe that sounds like a lot to you… But all these items were small and easy to carry.

I’d sometimes switch them out for a little variety.

I NEVER Felt Limited with The Mindfulness Bin!

Although it was small, it sure was mighty!

It had all the tools we needed to get the job done.

My students saw the bin as this magical component to Mindfulness Club…

Remember Mary Poppins?

And the never-ending magical tote bag she would pull unlimited items out of?

Yeah…?

Well, that’s how I felt every time I had The Mindfulness Bin with me!

“What will Miss T. pull out next?!”

No Space, No Problem!

Don’t get discouraged if you have a space-limiting challenge in front of you.

Get creative: Think outside-of-the-box!

There is always a way. Always a solution.

I hope my Mindfulness Bin story will inspire you to take creative action on your next big challenge.

I know you can do it…

With love,

Miss T.

Health / Wellness, Mental health, Stress / Anxiety

The #1 Secret to Living a Healthy, Full Life!

Cassandra Troughton

What is The Secret to Living a Healthy Life?

Growing up, I was told if you stay active and eat nutritious foods then you’ll have no problem living to 100!!

I’m sure you’ve heard something along these lines too.

Nutrition and physically activity are the keys to a healthy life…

We hear a lot about the impact our diet and movement can have on our well-being, but we often neglect one of the most important components to our wellness…

Let’s chat about Mental Health!

Where does it fit in this wellness puzzle?

Mental well-being is a tough topic to talk about. Mostly due to lack of awareness.

But now, our world has become filled with anxiety, depression, phobias and a plethora of other mental illnesses.

With mental illness on the rise, we have no choice but to shine a spotlight on Mental Health.

We have to acknowledge it.

And I’m sure glad we are, because it is the real ‘kicker’ when it comes to maintaining our health and wellbeing.

Dr. Gabor Mate, physician and author who specializes in childhood development and trauma, reported about a study of smokers in one of his books.

The smokers were separated into 2 groups:

  • Smokers who were more emotionally stable
  • Smokers who were emotionally repressed and had significant stress

… And the findings were shocking!

Although we KNOW the impact smoking has on our health, there were significant differences between the health of the two groups.

The emotionally stable smokers lived longer, healthier lives- not necessarily guaranteeing lung cancer and other diseases.

The emotionally repressed smokers were 5x more likely to develop these diseases!

Smoking alone does not cause lung cancer…

Smoking + Poor Mental Health does!

Woahhh…

This doesn’t mean I’m telling you to take up smoking..

I’m telling you this to remind you how powerful our mindset can be. Our thoughts and emotions have the power to override unhealthy habits – like smoking!

This is why it is so important not to disregard our good ol’ friend ‘Mental Health’ when it comes to our well-being.

Our thoughts can make us sick, but they can also make us well.

Adding in positive mental health practices to our lives is just as essential (if not, more essential) for our overall wellness than physical activity and nutrition alone!

Mental Health is the missing piece to our wellness puzzle.

Now that you know…

…How will you chose to use your thoughts?

… For health? Or for illness?

No one can make the choice but you!

With love,

Miss T.

Education, Kids, Mindset, Stress / Anxiety

Teenagers: Treacherous Tiny Humans… But, Are They Actually?

Cassandra Troughton

“I will NEVER work with teenagers. You wont ever find me working in a Junior High School…”

– Young Miss T.

Said a young, naive Miss T.

But, Why?

Do you remember the kind of terror – I mean, kid, you were as a teen?

I never wanted to deal with treacherous teens, like myself.

I told myself, there was just no way…

… Until This Year Happened…

My little Elementary school closed down, and in its place, a Grade 4-9 school was built.

On one hand, I didn’t want to leave my students who would transfer to this new school.

But on the other hand, I remembered the promise I made to myself in my early days of Education.

The promise I made to never work with teenagers.

Why would I want to put myself through that…?

I don’t know what I was thinking when I said YES to the position at this new school….

I don’t know what I was thinking when I said YES when they asked if I’d work with a Grade 9 classroom….

But I did anyways.

I Was Paralyzed With Fear Back In September.

Surrounded by “kids” taller than I was.

Surrounded by cliques of teens.

How was I supposed to look confident? Unafraid?

When deep down, I felt like I was thrown back in junior high trying to prove myself to all these “cool” teens. Trying to “fit in”. To be “accepted” as one of their own.

I remember asking other staff members for advice.

“They’re Just Big Kids” – They’d All Say.

It took me a while to realize this was true.

It took me a while to look past their height and intimidating demeanour.

What it took, was me coming back to the school after my leave of absence…

I mustered up the courage to seek out my Grade 9’s again – worrying, yet again, if they’d be angry with me for leaving.

I worried that the kids I was scared of all along, would really give me something to be afraid of…

“Look! It’s Miss T!” – Someone Shouted.

I took one step through the door, and immediately was pummelled by student hugs!

Hugs so tight that it took me back to my Elementary school days…

These hugs felt exactly like my Grade 1’s and 2’s hugs did.

Except, this time, when I looked down, there weren’t tiny humans hanging on tightly to my legs…

Instead, there were beautiful tiny souls disguised as teenagers.

I learned a beautiful lesson that day…

Do not be fooled: Teenagers really are just big kids after all…

Thank you to the teenagers who changed my life and my perception…

I am grateful for all you taught me!
(Yes, I’m looking at you – My Homeroom 9-1‘s)

With love,

Miss T.