Perseverance...Do you have it? I know a LOT of people who do...

Hello everyone!

I hope your summer was a great one. I know mine is winding down and I am beginning to prepare for my Fall classes which include a LOT of Holiday prep!!

As I was looking at my classes and trying to decide on music choices for each class and student, I got around to looking at my SEASPAR classes that I teach. Once again I was reminded of the strength of all of my students AND their families/friends/assistants. After contemplating this for a while, I moved on to my students at the Darien Park District, then my home voice students. Then all of their friends and families... And I thought "What an amazing group of people I work with!". I have to say these students work extremely hard and their parents are fantastically supportive. I like that (can you tell?) :)

Then I thought about a common quality ALL of my students and their parents/families possessed. And regardless of whether it's my SEASPAR students OR my park district students or home students I found the one quality they all had in common is PERSEVERANCE. And with that quality came along INTEGRITY and DIGNITY.

Websters defines Perseverance as :continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition.

ABSOLUTELY!!!! My SEASPAR students and care givers embody this quality. I have seen the prejudice my students come up against. I have witnessed my students conducting themselves with integrity and dignity when faced with some ignorant, less-than-compassionate peers AND adults. And I often think to myself- Would I EVER be that good? Would I EVER have that much strength of character to look people in the eye, stand my ground and convey to them that I am just as good and competent as they are? I don't know. But these kids have it in "spades". And do you know why they have it? Because they have care givers (family and others) who have taught them...who have lead by example and said, you know what? Just because you are different it doesn't mean you are any less of a person and it certainly doesn't mean you cannot have expectations, goals and dreams. And then do you know what these care givers do? They help, push, cajole and support these guys to the "Nth" degree to help them realize their dreams. I have no idea how they do it. All I know is that I'm not so sure I could do what any of these people-students AND care givers-do. It's just my job to help it happen!!!!!

As far as my Park District and home students go- they have different challenges, but they are just as real and just as difficult. We live in a town/area that has a high emphasis on athletics. And sometimes kids who are not shining athletes get "lost". Music and the Arts are STILL the first programs to be cut out of school and kids lives despite the overwhelming proof that Music and the Arts are just as important in a children's growth and learning as any other subject. And then to be constantly being bombarded with news about how we are an obese nation, it's no wonder athletics is being pushed on all these kids. Don't get me wrong-I believe in exercise wholeheartedly!! I ride my bike, get on the treadmill, lift weights and try to walk as much as possible. I HIGHLY encourage dancing in any form! However, there are quite a few kids that don't want to be on the soccer team...don't want to play basketball, volleyball, baseball, track etc... That's where music and the arts come into play.

With all that being said-it is very difficult for a lot of my students to continue and PERSEVERE with their music studies. "Fitting in" is PARAMOUNT in middle school and highschool. No one wants to be on the outside. But my students? They keep at their music. Challenging themselves with the music they pick(and with the music I pick!) and manage to turn out FLAWLESS performances despite the pressures of not being brilliant athletes! And my hat tips to their families as well. They are supportive and willing to let these guys take these risks. And I have to thank them for trusting me to be the safety net if they should ever fall. I take that task very seriously. Not only is it a difficult task to be a parent in general, but a parent of a creative/artistic/talented child is challenging as well. And I appreciate ALL of the care givers of my students for this.

All of this thinking on Perseverance and how ALL of my students and care givers have this in abundance could "bring you down"...make you think you don't have this kind of quality in yourself when you look at the obstacles and challenges these people go up against every day. It COULD do that. But it won't.

I look at this quality and think "Man!!! If they can have that kind of Perseverance, I can, at the very least, try as well." If they can conduct themselves with Integrity and Dignity there is no reason why I cannot too. 

Persevere...in everything. Choose to be kind and through inner perseverance conduct yourselves accordingly. The only thing we, as individuals have control over, is HOW we react to situations and challenges. Choose to react positively and with integrity and dignity. 

To do this requires PERSEVERANCE. Everybody has it. It's just some work a little harder at using it. 

Perseverance builds Integrity which strengthens your Dignity. Try it.

Thanks for reading. As always stay healthy, eat well and be happy!!