To my students:

Last week I submitted your final grades to the University.  Today I write you with great affection for you.  What can I tell you that you don’t already know? I started this semester with this question, and as I sit trying to think of advice for you to take with you at the end of the year, I return to it. I believe that there isn’t much I can tell you that you don’t already know. A long time ago, a yoga teacher once told me, “Like the firefly, you already know how to make light. No one has to tell the firefly what to do.” You already know how to light up the world around you. The best I can do is teach you the English curriculum, give you language to express what you already know and show you different perspectives on the world around you. And, of course, I can offer you some advice:

Don’t Worry about What to Do With Your Life

We spend a lot of time asking you what you plan to do after school, and I’m sure it worries those of you who don’t have a plan yet, Trust your instincts, if something doesn’t feel right it probably isn’t.  Choose something that you love and make a positive impact on the world.  You can’t go wrong that way.  Then bring presence to each moment; the most important moment in time is the one you are living right now so give it your full attention,  You can’t go wrong that way.

Face Your Fears

Some of the scariest things in my life have been the most important and most memorable. From traveling half way around the world to live in a new country to facing my fear of swimming by snorkeling in a volcano in the middle of the ocean, I’m proud of the fears I’ve conquered. I still get nervous when speaking before a large crowd, to be sure, but it hasn’t killed me yet. Furthermore, facing these fears has brought me to where I am today. It would have been really easy for me to take a desk job, refusing to take risk but I wouldn’t let myself do that. Follow the fear. You’ll find that the things that scare you are often the most important things you’ll ever do, and you already know it will turn out okay in the end.

You Are Stronger than You Think You Are

In life, when you feel that you cannot take one more step, put one foot in front of the other and continue on. When you get to the end and look back, you’ll be proud you did, and you’ll realize you knew you could do it all along.

As we close the school year, I have faith that you will take these lessons with you, and that you will continue to search for new perspectives and make a positive impact on the world.  Please stay in touch,  I cannot wait to see what wonderful and important things you do with your lives, because you will do all of this and more. But you already knew that, didn’t you?

With Warm Regards,

Mrs. Leah