I was chosen as the Staff member of the month for November – (Thank you !) which is crazy for this reason- (the theme was Going the Extra Mile) – everything, and I mean EVERYTHING in the form of an idea, dream, or initiative, is nothing, zero, zilch, NADA, without the individuals who can get past selfishness and get to possibility and selflessness. While I am honored that individuals see me as someone who “goes the extra mile”, none of the scenarios that people compliment me for would occur without those very people to make it actually happen- so again, an award like this is an award everyone is part of in order for ANYTHING to happen. The flowers, cards, and emails have been a bit overwhelming when there are so many people that are not realized that make things happen. (I found this old photo I received mentioned about going the extra mile and I had to think about the irony of this so many years later :). It is easy to realize, at every corner of your day, you see, hear, and witness examples of negativity, a need for selfish attention and disregard for others under the guise of giving back, and yes, it can bring you down.

Almost every reel or scenario I see when I see Facebook, and alot of social media, are aggressive, adveserial situations presented as entertainment.

Do I need to count the number of times leaders in our political system hide under the cover of doing something for the public for wanting the attention for themselves and wanting themself applauded. Certainly it can be heavy on your mind and it dies indeed weigh on your indeed. YET- there is a movement among youth to push back against this false sense of giving to others and rising to the top and ACTUALLY showing everyone what it means to give back. In this first segment of what I am thankful before Thanksgiving – in two days we have witnessed INCREDIBLE moments that the public would never see, but I feel they are important to know about, to show our students are quite capable of doing more when it can be applied outside of the classroom. “It” being opportunity that students are usually overlooked for. These waves of youth will and can change what we know as selfish politics now.

Example 1- We noticed a stray cat on our campus and trying to find herm track, her, capture her, and get her into a home – THAT has been challenging. YET- from the support and help of former alumni to current students, with many attempts with a trap cage, countless types of very smelly food, finding our young cat was able to jump over the trap to the food, and sit taunting us at her ability, (lol) – the support of the students over a period of days we were able to get her from running all over campus looking for food, to from under a pallet outside, to cage, to a loving home.

It might seem like a little thing? But this little thing is reflective of bigger things of what all are capable of when you do not give up for the greater good.

Example 2- If you could imagine a school library where every 5 minutes, someone is knocking on the door, calling on the phone, sending an email, coming down for a solution to a problem, well that is our school library – good problems to have, but quite overwhelming. In just two days, students that were in the vicinity continue to help answer those emails, answer those phones, help with problems and questions students and staff have when the come into the library- they do this without being asked at this point- and they have begun to claim ownership of their library. it is amazing thing to see, and to not be thankful for the students and staff that pitch in together to make a school a community? Priceless.

Yes we served a 16 pound turkey with potatoes, stuffing, gravy and pumpkin pie with whipped cream on November 25th – but it was amazing to see students and staff share this deserved treat as a reward for wanting to be a part of their school library – and owning their school library. :). It is amazing what can occur in two days to bring the realization of what students are capable of- to a wider audience. Personally, the more negativity and selfishness our government produces, the more I am energized to do more to work in the opposite direction to restate who we are as a community, and who WE can be, not I. It helps push me in the opposite direction of what we want to be known for, and I hope that continues to be contagious among some pretty amazing youth as well- A good way to enter into this Thanksgiving holiday!

In just a little less than three weeks-

*We have collected over 200 books to give to families (Come see us and support the NRWC as well as other nonprofits November 29th at Merry Lane in Seaford, DE! – free and get a book for your younger one!)

*We have participated in Girls on the Run!

*Students have met with board members to hear their point of view and keep lines of communication pen

*Students are learning ways to advertise and promote libraries up and down the state with tech like 360 degree cameras, drones, and book reviews

*Are being accepted into leadership programs like HOBY and creating student panels, themselves, to address issues like abuse.

*Students are creating ways in displays to get more students to read books that

provide feedback to publishers on diverse topics.

and this is just the beginning.

Is there anything to be thankful for in light of so much negativity churned from so called leaders in our country? ABSOLUTELY. It is time to build on the excitments and possibilities our yiuth have to turn ugly into amazing- more to come!