Make Your Future Self Proud

As a middle school teacher I have the pleasure of working with a unique group of students.

At times I look out and have no idea what they are doing and can't even begin to guess why they are doing what they are doing;  the really fun--and sometimes frustrating--part about this is that at times, they don't know why they are doing what they are doing either.

Middle school is a mix of growth spurts and hormones which cause mood swings and attention spans to be that of a squirrel at a nut factory.  In the classroom it is a mix of students who are completely with it most of the time and want to do their best, to students who may not know what day it is or what they are wearing without looking down, and every kind of student in between.  Some are so busy with school, sports, activities and home life they don't know if they are coming or going.  Others do their own thing and try to fly under the radar.  The one factor that all these students have in common is that they are trying to make it through each day, one at a time.

So when I look out and see my middle school students doing seemingly random things, I give a quick chuckle on the inside, sometimes on the outside too, and know it's time to talk about "Future You."

With all that is going on in a middle schooler's life, they often don't see past the immediate present, and sometimes not even that far.  We often need to remind them that what they do today has an impact on the future.  The future could be an hour from now, tomorrow, next week, or when they are 30.  What they are doing now impacts others and themselves beyond the moment.

I often say, "Do something today to make your future self proud."  Nobody wants future you to get a time machine and come back to talk some sense into you, nor will that actually happen. So, let your actions pick people up and your presence inspire. Do something today to make your future self proud.

As a teacher I do my best to model this same sentiment.  What can I do today to make my future self proud?  What can I do to pick up students who are down, or colleagues who had a rough day?  How can my actions inspire students and teachers to become the best future self they can? All I really can do is keep learning how to do what I do better each and every day and share what I am learning with colleagues.

If future me were to rent a time machine and come back for a visit, I would want him to thank me for doing what I could now to make me proud then. (There's some timey wimey stuff in there somewhere).