#sol18- January 2, 2018
Just a side note to begin- I have always been in awe of those writers who draft before Tuesday evening. I always tell myself I will. In fact, especially during March, I should, yet it never happens-until now! This post was drafted December 29 because I am heading off an adventure to India in the morning and I am not taking my computer. So even though I am sick and there are 101 things I could be/should be doing I am proud that I am making writing a priority (and I am definitely packing my notebook for some on the road writing!). How I will post the link to the TWT site remains to be seen.
With a lot of contemplation, I have decided that my word for 2018 will be challenge! I was actually convinced it might be another word until I looked that word up in the dictionary- a valuable lesson learned- my understanding of a word may not always be standard!
dictionary.com defines challenge as:
1. a call or summons to engage in any contest, as of skill, strength, etc.
2. something that by its nature or character serves as a call to battle, contest, special effort, etc.:
Space exploration offers a challenge to humankind.
3. a call to fight, as a battle, a duel, etc.
4. a demand to explain, justify, etc.:
a challenge to the treasurer to itemize expenditures.
5. difficulty in a job or undertaking that is stimulating to one engaged in it.
6. Military. the demand of a sentry for identification or a countersign.
7. Law. a formal objection to the qualifications of a particular juror, to his or her serving, or to the legality of an entire jury.
8. the assertion that a vote is invalid or that a voter is not legally qualified.
9. Biology. the process of inducing or assessing physiological or immunological activity by exposing an organism to a specific substance.
10. Hunting. the crying of a hound on finding a scent.
11. to summon to a contest of skill, strength, etc.
12. to take exception to; call in question:
to challenge the wisdom of a procedure.
13. to demand as something due or rightful.
14. Military. to halt and demand identification or countersign from.
15. Law. to take formal exception to (a juror or jury).
16. to have a claim to; invite; arouse; stimulate:
a matter which challenges attention.
17. to assert that (a vote) is invalid.
18. to assert that (a voter) is not qualified to vote.
19. to expose an organism to a specific substance in order to assess its physiological or immunological activity.
20. Archaic. to lay claim to.
21. to make or issue a challenge.
22. Hunting. (of hounds) to cry or give tongue on picking up the scent.
23. donated or given by a private, corporate, or government benefactor on condition that the recipient raise an additional specified amount from the public:
My hope in choosing challenge is that it will remind me to live by what I believe- to keep it real. I think it is important to continue to better align my beliefs and my practices. I know it will be a challenge to move to a new school this summer and that traditional wisdom holds that the first year is for observing, but…
I want to challenge myself to seek out opportunities to be involved in the community (both the school community and beyond). I want to challenge myself to contribute as a teammate and a member of the leadership team. I want to challenge myself to keep growing as a learner to be a better teacher. I want to challenge the status quo- because we always have done it that way is not enough of a reason to continue that way. I want to challenge myself to keep the why in mind. I want to challenge myself to be more reflective and purposeful.
Beyond the professional, I want to challenge myself to be a better friend. I am an introvert and need to work on looking outside myself more often. I want to challenge myself to try new things. Travel often challenges me- and I definitely want to do more of that in 2018. I also want to challenge myself to have more of a life beyond school.
Challenge can be thought of a something difficult, but I am looking at it more broadly. I will keep coming back to these different definitions. Challenge has so many facets.
I am sure that in the coming days and weeks I will think of even more ways that I can use challenge to help mentor me this year.
