Last night over 550 seniors graduated from our high school. It is always such an honor to be present for their special day and even more of an honor to be a part of their journey in our school system. As I sat there watching their nervous excitement, I also looked into the stands and saw the faces of so many people who with great pride were there to celebrate this significant accomplishment.
This has me thinking about how so few things are sacred in this way. Graduations and weddings have a sort of understood code of ethics and conduct to ensure that the moments are treated with dignity and pride in a ceremonial fashion.
In our lifetime, we experience peaks and valleys, moments of great joy and jubilation and moments of great sorrow that leave an indelible mark on our hearts. But what about all of those moments in between? While certainly not every moment can be treated with the same significance, many more could be treated with a smidge more intentionality.
Perhaps this is why many elementary schools enjoy celebrating the 100th day of school or why many groups of 8th graders enjoy that memorable trip to DC in the spring.
And yet, what about the every day? How might we create more moments of elevation, surprise, and delight for our students during the school year? There is research which suggests that dopamine, the chemical release we experience when we are happy, has the power to turn on all of the learning centers of the brain, and in fact, our brains benefit even more when those moments are unexpected.
I was talking to Michelle Dohrmann who started our Teacher Academy this school year, and she was telling me how excited her students will get if she simply has them meet in one of our extended learning spaces. She seats them in a circle on the carpet, and it’s pretty cute to see it in action, honestly. She explained that sometimes something small but new and different is just what students need to give them a boost of engagement. I can’t help but smile every time I see her doing things like this because she’s clearly enjoying her students, and they can sense it.
There are chapters in my upcoming book, Legacy of Learning: Teaching for Lasting Impact, centered on the importance of happiness, thrill, and delight in our schools. Specifically, why it matters, and how we can make small moves to get more of it for ourselves and others.
We don’t have to wait until kindergarten, 8th grade, and senior year to celebrate our students. We don’t have to wait until Teacher Appreciation Week or retirement parties to celebrate each other. In fact, as I mention in my book, my favorite definition of happiness is growth. When we learn and change and evolve, even in small ways, and see others doing the same, it’s important that we celebrate. The brain is more motivated by how far we’ve come than by how far we have to go. Think about that. At graduations, while the future is mentioned and in positive terms, it’s the growth that students experienced over the years that takes center stage in the graduation ceremony. From learning how to read, to making new friends, and learning time management in secondary school, we celebrate our scholars for their growth and development.
Many educators are now embarking on well-deserved time away from school. Many will find themselves reading and lesson planning, focused on what they want to do differently in order to achieve more next school year.
And that’s wonderful. It’s one of the many qualities that contribute a beautiful legacy of learning.
But don’t forget to also enjoy what you achieved this school year. It is nothing short of remarkable, and you will need that sense of satisfaction and pride to energize you for what will come next in the fall.
In the meantime, I remain full of gratitude for the opportunity to do work I believe in with people I enjoy. It’s a profound honor to be trusted to grow the hearts and minds of learners. I hope to treat it as such by creating more peak moments of joy and more celebrations of small milestones. When we do so, we give learners greater access to higher levels of happiness and in turn, according to Shawn Achor, greater access to their biggest potential.
And isn’t that what we all went into education to do? Fill others with hope and a sense that they can achieve more and make a greater impact than they ever thought possible?
Wishing you great rest, joy, and pride in job well-done. Enjoy your summer. You deserve it.
MEGHAN LAWSON 
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