support – Jenna Jamieson, Author

Giving love and support to those that need it most!

By Jenna Jamieson | April 30, 2018 | Comments 0 Comment

I have had an extremely tough semester for a multitude of reasons, but mostly because I have students that truly and desperately need support and guidance. The mixture of high school students I have has made teaching exceptionally difficult and left me grasping for ways to efficiently teach consumer education to a range of students whose learning levels range from elementary to college. The learning differentiation isn’t my only obstacle, though! The students I am teaching have a large range of lifestyles and home environments that impact how they view education, their ability to work outside of school, and how much support they receive at home. This is the reality for so many teachers and I know I am not the exception.

Combine my class concerns with some of the school dynamics I have faced including not having a classroom – wheeling around a cart to four different rooms throughout the day to teach has been a chaotic, mountain-climbing adventure. To add to the mountain, I had some students going through some major life struggles which included me assisting with several emotionally and mentally draining situations that has left me feeling unsettled on more than one occasion. Additionally, I teach in some classrooms with computers and in other classrooms with no computers which creates another level of structured chaos when it comes to planning lessons, adding another piece to my puzzle that I have to carefully put together.

BUT, there is a silver lining and there actually always is one no matter what the situation is! My students may show a long list of emotions in the classroom because of their diverse backgrounds that range from anger, happiness, sadness, frustration, bitterness, humor, fun, and every emotion in between. Each with a unique personality and style, but many of them with their own baggage, their own insecurities, their own challenges and successes, and most of all their own story. A story that is sometimes broken, sometimes not broken, and sometimes underdeveloped. I sometimes feel an overwhelming amount of chaos when there is a group of such a variety in my hands because it makes for a very stressful semester, but these are the students that need love, guidance, and support the most. I became their teacher for a reason and that’s just the reason. To provide that support, guidance, and nurturing that they so desperately need. While it hasn’t been easy and I won’t even pretend that it has, it has been meaningful to be able to recognize and understand that my role is to nurture, comfort, and give to these students the support, guidance, and appreciation that they so need at such a crucial time in their lives. And, no matter what there is definitely some learning happening…some learning from me, some learning from each other, sometimes the students teaching me, but more than anything some much needed nurturing, guidance, and support.

~jj

#ProjectKindnessBook

#AlwaysChooseKindness

Cheer yourself on—be your own cheerleader!

By Jenna Jamieson | October 31, 2014 | Comments 1 comment

Something to remember about exercise is the importance of support and positive reinforcement along the way. Sometimes workouts can be long, exhausting, and even drag on as if they are never going to end. Even for the most trained individual, there will be days when working out seems less than par. Other days will go quick and feel great! One thing I tend to do throughout my workout is cheer myself on. This sounds odd I realize, but when my workout gets tough and I really feel challenged, I begin to cheer myself on in my head to amp myself up. If this isn’t something that will help you, consider having a workout buddy that will keep you going. As a side note, remember the importance of cheering on friends and family around you who make exercise and working out a priority. By this, I mean you remind them how proud you are of their commitment to staying healthy, recognize their progress, or even buy them a small treat, workout gear, etc when they meet goals to show them that their hard work is being noticed. Positive support is what encourages people to maintain their workout routine so they don’t give up along the way.

Back to the whole cheering yourself on during your workout! 😉 Studies have actually shown that people who are their own cheerleader throughout their workout and say positive things to reinforce meeting their goals are more successful. For example, telling yourself “Don’t give up”, “Keep going”, “You can do this”, etc are all great ways to spur you through your workout and over the long term make a difference in the results that you will see and the time that it takes to see those results.

So, get up, get moving, and remember the power of positive thinking! Find some great inspirational cheers to say to yourself that will help to keep you going during those workouts that seem to drag on and on and on and never end! I have put together a small collage of some great sayings I like to say to myself when I feel like I have reached my limit and can’t go on. Once I get to that point, the positive cheerleading begins!

~jj