Chasing Rainbows: Don't Give Up, Don't Ever Give Up!

This weekend, my wife and our kids traveled to the Great Smoky Mountains for our anniversary.  In visiting Pigeon Forge, there's a building in Dollywood that's named "Chasing Rainbows."   There's also an award given out annually (Chasing Rainbows Award) under the banner of the National Network of State Teachers of the Year (NNSTOY) to a teacher that has inspired children to chase their dreams.  The meaning behind the phrase is clear that you should chase your rainbow, follow your dreams, and that you can accomplish anything in life that you put your mind to and are willing to work/persevere for.   It reminds us of Jim Valvano's Espy Speech and "Don't Give Up, Don't Ever Give Up!"   It also resonated that Dolly chasing her rainbow had a profound impact on the entire community in that area of Tennessee and the Imagination Library has brought the gift of books and reading to kids worldwide.  

While walking through the exhibit and reflecting, the message hit a chord with me and the journey in education so far.  Getting accepted into an education program wasn't easy for me after a pretty rough academic start in college.  The dean of the College of Education at NC State told me that I was wasting my time trying to get into education and that I'd never make it to be able to be a certified teacher.  Talk about smashing someone's dream and telling them there's no pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.  I realized that I didn't have the greatest start academically in college, but I always wanted to teach and coach in my hometown.  I wanted to see students and players have the same type of awesome experience that I was able to have in high school.  There was even something in me that wanted to lead a schools and a school district to have a positive impact on the lives of as many students and athletes as I could. Leading a school district is a dream that I've always had that would allow me to give back to so many that have helped me along the way and to have a significant impact on the lives of generations of children and an entire county or community.  It was at that point where the Dean of Education told me that I would never be able to make it into education, and return to do that in my hometown, that I was determined to chase my rainbow and have a career in education and educational leadership. I took tons of extra classes and alternative licensing to be able to be a certified teacher; however, a couple of years after completing certification I also completed the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards (national board certified teacher).  I also went on to get a master degree, educational specialist degree and doctorate degree in Educational Leadership.  I was able to be a principal at all levels in K-12 education and in two states.  I fulfilled another goal of working for the NC Department of Public Instruction to help transform low-performing schools so that ALL children can have the right to a great education so that they'll be able to chase their dreams.  I'm still chasing my rainbow and enjoying the ride along the way.  It's been a long journey that has led me through tons of detours that have helped to prepare me for the next step in the journey.  I've met so many people that have been influential in my career and have helped me to grow professionally.  This journey has taken me to places and positions I would've never imagined, but I know it's all part of the path that the Lord is leading me on to prepare me to do His work in education!

I had rainbows I chased as an athlete and a coach.  I always wanted to play college football and win weightlifting competitions.  Somehow I was able to be a member of the Wolfpack football team and go to a bowl game in college.  Through dedication and hard work, I was able to win individual State Championships in both powerlifting and olympic weightlifting.  I was able to coach several kids that won state championships in weightlifting, coach teams that won state championships in weightlifting, and even coach kids in college that competed at the Collegiate Nationals in Reno.  All of those championships started with a friend that encouraged me to get kids to a weight meet in Savannah, GA.  We had no money and little hope of winning, but we found a way to scrape up enough money to pay for gas, slept in the truck, and took food with us to eat.  There's true power in hope and not letting the word "can't" be part of the conversation.  I was blessed to coach football in my hometown for many years and see the program rise to tremendous success with many players going on to play college football.  Making it to the playoffs became the norm and playing at least into the 3rd and 4th rounds became the expectation year in and year out in trying to win a state championship.  The lessons learned as an athlete and as a coach have translated into school administration and leadership.  

I chased rainbows in my personal life too.  I always wanted to be married and have kids, family.  It took a long while for this dream to come to fruition.  I am blessed to have a wife and two kids.  Recently, I had a substantial injury that required surgery and will take many months to recover.  My wife was there through every part of it with me, from surgery to doctors appointments and physical therapy, even helping with the basic things like getting in the house and to the bathroom and getting dressed.  You find out how much people love you and care about you during tough times.  That means more to me than I could every put into words, but I will always love her and be indebted to her for standing by me during this time.  You are truly blessed in life if you have someone like that.  

We have a lot to be grateful for each day when we think about it.  There are many rainbows that we've already found in our lives and some that we we are still chasing.  Don't ever let someone destroy a child's dream, don't ever let someone destroy your dream!  If you want it, go get it.  Where there's a will, there's a way.  There are people along the way that will try to keep you from your dream and others that will be positive and encourage you to chase your dream.  God puts both of those types of people there for a reason.  I hope each of us in education is one of those people that inspire others to chase their dreams!  I'm still chasing mine professionally and will as long as the good Lord allows me to chase it!   This rainbow that I've been chasing in my professional life isn't about me, but about having a significant impact on the lives of others, making a positive difference and being an advocate for ALL children, and making the place where the Lord calls me to a little bit better for others!  Keep Chasing Your Rainbows and keep being a bright spot in the lives of others!