10A – My beloved homeroom!
Out of all the classes I could have been given as my homeroom this year, I am SOOOOOOO glad it was all of you! You have all probably noticed by now that I am not much of a morning person but you all, without a doubt could instantly cheer me up with your smiles, “good morning’s,” crazy & silly comments, inspirational quotes on the board, and above all, your positive attitudes.
You have all probably figured out by now that one of my passions is to travel. I love traveling with all of my heart and if I didn’t follow my heart I would not be the person I am meant to be. However, the part that I don’t like about this passion of mine is that it means I have to leave people like you. I wish I could take you all with me on my travels, but I think your parents would sue me for kidnapping the class. So we will have to settle with keeping in touch. Or maybe someday you guys will be traveling and we will run into each other around the world?? Or maybe Mr. Kaufhold and I will just have to come back and visit?? =)
I don’t want to dwell on that sad parts, I just want to remember the wonderful year I had with all of you. I want you to promise me one thing – ok, maybe a few things. ;)
Promise me that you will always remember:
· Stay positive! =) You all have seriously some of the most positive attitudes of all the students I have met here and I hope you remember to keep it that way. Having a positive attitude will ALWAYS help you to be successful and most importantly, to be happy!
· Be kind – The Dalai Lama said, “Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.” Isn’t that a great quote? This is something I have to work on also. We all have to remember that there is so much kindness in the world and it is up to us to pass it on to others.
· Consider both sides of the story – I know I always told you to consider different theories in history, but this can also apply to “real life.” Remember that other people have feelings too, and their feelings or opinions matter. Do not believe everything you hear. Gossip can destroy someone’s life, and is a form of bullying.
· Depend on each other – All people depend on other people. You are a class that will need to depend upon each other even more than ever as juniors! Rather than creating divides amongst yourselves, use this year to open up to each other, trust each other, and have fun together!
· Accept each other’s flaws – No one is perfect. You all will get to know each other VERY WELL next year and sometimes you might drive each other crazy! But that doesn’t mean that you can’t still love, trust, and support each other. Just like a family. Also, accept your own flaws, but continue working to improve yourself.
· Grades aren’t everything – What? My teacher is telling me not to care about grades?? WRONG! Grades are very important! But so are extra-curricular activities, clubs, sports teams, school events, friends, family, and most of all – honesty! Colleges want to know you are a well-rounded person, not just a straight A student. People want to know that you are a good person who tries their hardest in an honest way. I know all of you and I know you are all capable of this!
· Set your goals NOW – You may not know exactly what you want to do when you grow up and that’s ok! But it’s always important to identify what it is you want out of life, and GO GET IT! These can be long term or short term goals, academic, career-minded, or personal goals. Ask yourself, “What kind of life do I want?” And then MAKE IT HAPPEN! You are in charge of your own future! =)
· Be flexible – Embrace change. Friends change, school changes, jobs change, families change, and most importantly, YOU will change. This is a great thing! Do not be afraid of change! Don’t be afraid to change your mind, either! You may think you want to be a doctor now and you may decide later that you actually want to make movies. The great part is that you get to decide, and you still have lots of time!
· Lastly, keep in touch – With the internet these days, it is very easy to keep in touch and I would love to see how your lives turn out and be there to offer advice even when I am across the world. Email me: lindsay.kaufhold@gmail.com
Each one of you is so special and unique in your very own ways. Give yourself time to find out who you are, and you will grow into spectacular men and women. I will miss you all, but I want to thank you for making my last year at Guamani a great one. I owe you guys! =)
