In other news, I'd like to reflect on a very important lesson I learned last week: don't be a parrot.
I stuck my foot really deep in my mouth during my group run. Mind you, this is a super fun motley crew I joined one month ago in an effort to make friends. Needless to say, I was still stamping out first impressions and this one was a nose dive...
A few runners-who-also-happened-to-be-teachers struck up a conversation about their respective school systems. I recognized one of the schools as a deterrent in my husband's and my choice of neighborhood, as we read online reviews that the district "wasn't very good".
Those quoted words spewed from my mouth with little thought of it possibly offending one of the teachers. She explained very politely that, sure, it's something people say -- but her experience has been the contrary.
And why wouldn't it be? It was easy to recognize that she was an impassioned individual who genuinely cared about her students' successes. The socioeconomic factors at play had nothing to do with how "good' a school is when great teachers like her run the classrooms.
This faux pas served as a reminder that I should always question the source and observe the Truth (big T) firsthand. I was also reminded how much respect I have for teachers and their diligence, patience, and selflessness. I wouldn't be half the person I am today without my own teachers' encouragement through the years, and I should never forget the impact educators have on their students' futures.
To my running friend and all other teachers out there -- thank you for everything you do!
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