MAXIMize the Moment Volume 1, Issue 10

Now it's time to MAXIMize the Moment!

The envelope has arrived. I'm dreading what's inside. I don't want my parents to see either. I cringe at the idea of them pulling off the perforated side, and ripping open the messy paper that makes your fingers all smudgy. Then, finally, revealing the exam grades and the semester averages. Yikes!

I'm not sure if it's better or worse once the news is actually out there. A little of both, I guess. I did better in Chem, than I'd expected, but my parents are probably only going to notice the glaring C- next to Honors American Lit. My dad is an attorney and my mom is an advertising executive. They both basically write for a living. And I got a C- in English. Not to mention—although I'm sure that I my father will—junior year is "the most important one for getting into college."

I really should have done better. I didn't spend enough time on my papers. I chose to spend my free time with friends, rather than on school. When I did do schoolwork, I focused on Chem. I thought that I could afford to slack a little in English. I see now that I probably should have put more time and effort into all my classes. Now I'm still stuck with a C- and two angry parents.

When school finally starts again, I am miserable. Vacation is over. We don't get another long break for months. All of the excitement of the holidays is past and we're left with the winter blahs. Plus, my mom and dad are going to make me quit my job if I can't pull all of my grades back up to A's and B's.

I make sure to be early for English class—have to make a good impression at the start of the new semester. Then, I check out the journal for the day that Mrs. McDowell has written on the board: "'It is never too late to be what we might have been.'—George Eliot. Explain what this quote means to you today. Write at least one half page."

That's a great quote. It's so perfect for the start of the new year and even for the start of the new semester. There are so many things lately that I've been realizing I need to work on: staying more focused on my schoolwork, managing my time better, being kinder to my little brother and more respectful to my parents, even being nicer to my friends. On New Year's Day, when I thought of all the things that I wanted to do differently this year, I got too discouraged to even bother to try.

Now I realize that I can start over again each day. Rather than looking at all my faults and getting overwhelmed, I should come up with a list of practical things that I can do to start changing my life a little bit each day. It will be a struggle and will require commitment, but it's worth the effort. Today and each day forward, I can work to become a better version of myself. I know that I will continue to make mistakes, but I will stay focused on my goal and will get back up each time because "It is never too late to be what we might have been."

This week's maxim is "It is never too late to be what we might have been."

Teacher Information

Maxim

• "It is never too late to be what we might have been."
  George Eliot

Featured character trait

• Aspiration — I have goals and ideals which I work towards achieving; I believe that I can become a better version of myself and I am willing to put forth the effort to make that a reality.

Character points (for substitution if this week's trait isn't one of your school's core values)

• Optimism — I continue to see goodness in myself and have faith that I will continue to improve.
• Hope — I believe in the goodness of the future and look towards making that goodness a reality in my life.
• Determination — I am willing to work, to try, to fail, and to continue in my endeavor to improve myself.
• Perseverance — Despite setbacks, I stay focused on the goal and continue to work towards achieving it.
• Patience — I am willing to pace myself; I have enough perspective to look at the long term, rather than the short run.

Discussion starters / journal writing prompts

• List five things that you would like to change about yourself or your life. These should be things that you have some control over and can involve your life at school, at home, or your relationships.
• Now, rank these items in order of importance to you.
• For the top one, list three practical ways to make this happen. These should be short-term, attainable goals.
• List at list one action that you can take for each of the other items on your list.
• What sorts of things do you think make it difficult for us to attain our hopes and dreams?
• What makes self-improvement so challenging?
• Think of a time that you were successful in making a change in your life. What factors do you think contributed to your success? What did you learn from that experience? How can that be applied to your current situation?
• List some strategies and tips for sticking with a plan of action. What kinds of things can be helpful?
• How can other people assist you? What can those around you do or say to help you to "stay on track" towards your goal?
• What can we, as individual members of this classroom community, do to help one another? What kinds of words and behaviors should we avoid because they discourage others?
• What is the one thing that we, as a classroom community, need to focus on? What needs to be changed, added, or improve to make our community better?
• How can we help to bring about that change?