Louisiana FFA Convention

Last week I had the pleasure as an FFA Advisor to take four students to the 84th Louisiana State FFA Convention held in Alexandria.

State convention is always a great time to catch up with other ag teachers, inspire students and celebrate success as students compete in contests throughout the week.

This year was my 7th convention, I have attended 3 as a student and the last 4 as an Advisor for Church Point FFA.

This years them was GROW and I believe our students did just that!

This year we took four students who are just beginning their journey through agriculture education and the FFA. They have been involved in various aspects of the organization including public speaking, landscape and horitculture judging and forestry judging.

Throughout the four days of convention the students sat in on business sessions where they heard keynote speaker Mark Black, who at 23 was told he had a limited time to live. He survived the miraculous heart and double lung transplant he recieved and went on to run in 4 marathons since. Here are some bits and pieces from his speech that inspired the students.  

Yes, as a runner I think I was more enthralled than the kids!

The students were also able to participate in sessions that introduced them to the way that parliamentary procedure is used to run a business meeting or session.

Another highlight was electing state officers to represent them for the 2013-2014 year! And though they themselves did not compete in contests they were able to see their peers earn awards for public speaking, marketing and various other contests as well as recieve State FFA Degrees.

During down time we took the kids bowling and played lazer tag (not the best idea when wearing boots!)

Overall it is one of the highlight events that FFA as to offer! As the week progressed I really saw our students GROW and realize their potential within such an amazing program.

I can't wait to see what they will accomplish in years to come.

Being Who You Are

I had a student, who recently transferred into my class from California, tell me something recently that I'm all too familiar with.

"I didn't expect you to be a woman!"

As an agriculture teacher I am one of the few, but growing number of women agricultural educators in the state.

You see, traditionally the role of an agriculture teacher was reserved for men. This made sense to a lot of people as we are referred to commonly as "shop teachers" as agriculture not only encompasses the animal, plant, soil and food sciences but also carpentry and welding.

Carpentry and welding are not something that traditional female teachers taught or were wanting to teach, especially with the demanding schedule an agriculture teacher faces with being on the road a lot. You can imagine it's hard to raise a family with only a limited amount of time during the summer where we are not traveling.

Being a woman in this position I am often told that I should find a new profession, especially when children come into my life, or that a woman "shouldn't do a man's work". Statements like these kinda make you doubt the things and the work you are doing at times.

This past weekend though, during our churches annual Joie de Vivre conference, the amazing Holly Wagner stressed the importance of being who you are, and using the gifts that God has equipped you with.

Does knowing who you are and knowing your gifts completely devoid you of fear of what others say or think, or does it delete the fear of knowing that there will be many obstacles coming your way?

Of course not. 

The Bible states that there WILL be trials in our lives and that we will suffer at times, but really those moments pale in comparison to the courage our God offers to us if we worship and accept it from Him.

My problem has always been trying to toe the line between what I think people want me to be like and what I think I should be like.

I was constantly comparing myself to all of these standards that were not placed on me by my God, but by the society in which we live; the worldly opinion of the type of wife, the type of teacher and the type of woman I should be.

My amazing friend and one of the women I consider to be a big role model in how I want to live for and please God, Daphne Gaspard, preached at our women's conference on not comparing yourself to other's standards but God's.

I hadn't realized until this weekend how much I do that! Especially as an agriculture teacher. I am constantly trying to prove myself to the men in my field that I AM good enough, that I can weld, and use the cutting torch and build picnic tables with the rest of them even though they probably don't care.

I also compare myself to those of my friends who are married, have jobs and still somehow manage to keep an amazingly clean house, have delicious dinners on the table nearly every night, knit and take amazing photographs....I always wondered why I couldn't match up to that.

But the best thing is....I don't have to compare to them.

Our God, our Father, our Savior sees us as INCOMPARABLE to anyone and everyone else around us. He made each of us uniquely and gave us gifts that would benefit us alone for the assignments He has planned for us, that only we can fulfill.  

He loves each of us individually. I suppose it's like having children. If you have multiple you shouldn't love any of them less than the others but in a different way than the others because they are each individual people with their own giftings and quirks.

That's how God feels about us quirky individuals! He sees us as His sons and daughters and we are each precious to Him in our own way. He has something special planned for each and everyone of us and we have to accept the fact that we are each made differently for a different purpose.

Quick thought. The Bible states that we are made in the image of God. How amazingly diverse our Savior must be! That alone is something to worship Him for and to wonder at :)

As a Teacher....

In light of recent events I've decided to write from a teachers point of view...specifically an agriculture teachers point of view as we tend to spend more time with our students than a regular teacher. Although I have no children at the age of 25....you might see me refer to "my children" or "my kids" well that's because I have about 100 or so high schoolers that I pour my heart and soul into on a daily basis...and they are truly my kids in a sense. So here it goes....

As a teacher....I pray for my students day and night.

As a teacher.....I worry for their safety when they are not with me.

As a teacher....I am filled with joy at their success.

As a teacher...I cry with them during tragedy.

As a teacher...I've seen what they look like at 5 am ready (or not so much) for a field trip and as late as 8:30-9 pm preparing for contests.

As a teacher....I've disciplined them and it sometimes hurts my heart.

As a teacher.....I push them to strive for their very best.

As a teacher......I help them prepare for the future.

As a teacher....I spend hours after school practicing for career development events.

As a teacher...I spend hours researching new ways to have my kids "get" the information and compiling lesson plans.

As a teacher...I spend personal time at home thinking about my classes.

As a teacher...I spend two weeks during the summer at camp and convention chaperoning them 24 hours, day and night.

As a teacher....I've given my students the opportunity to travel and have logged MANY miles with some.

As a teacher....I've watched their faces with glow with awe as they were able to witness 52,000 blue jackets take over Indianapolis

As a teacher....I've spent more time with them than some of their parents.

As a teacher....I'm on of the first to know if my kids get in trouble...whether in school or out.

As a teacher...I've poured my heart and soul into my kids.

As a teacher...I've given first aide and bandaged up wounds.

As a teacher.....I only want the best for them.....

As a teacher....I'd take a bullet for them......

Recently my students asked me if I would step into the line of fire for them if something would happen. In a heartbeat yes. Not because of any sense of duty, but because they are my responsibility and even though they, at time, give me more headaches and grey hair than I care to admit they are still my kids...and even though they act macho and tell me that I wouldn't have to because they would be the one protecting me. However, I told them that they may never (God willing) know how they would react in that situation, they may become scared and look to the only adult in the room who they think they can count on and that would be me. I realize that I too may not know how I would react in a given situation but for me it's not about a choice, they are mine and I have to protect them. I live with the certainty that I am saved and my Heavenly Father will welcome me to Heaven.

I am not writing this at all to tout my own horn so to speak but to let everyone know how teachers feel about "their kids". We would all not hesitate to protect every single one of them in our charge and for parents to rest assured that though some think of us in a negative way and that we are only doing this job for the benefits and time off....yea right! We teach because we have a passion for it and love our kids.

Just my thoughts for the day.....