So many avenues…which way should I turn?

I can do anything if you give me the chance to try it. I consider myself very creative, but I was the kind of child who was pretty confident and unafraid. I could be given something or nothing to play with and I would be entertained. I’m not so sure anyone instilled this in me, but looking back I was a creative kid. I remember hearing the nine o’clock whistle in my neighborhood go off, and that meant playtime was over, and I had to go home. This was a sad time for me, because I wasn’t done exploring.

I believe creativity is held deep within all of us, and it comes in so many shapes and sizes. If a person never has the opportunity to unlock it, they may never find their true niche. Creating opens so many avenues within our psyche, which often times will engage us, surprise us, and make us cry for more. When I was a young student, I remember arts are what made me love school the most. This is why I wanted to be a teacher so I could enforce similar opportunities for my students. However, my goal was to teach all subjects as if they were an art, something I felt lost as I proceeded into middle and high school. I try to make learning fun, playful, and open creativity in any subject. Now, finding the time to make these experiences creative and engaging is where I fall short.

As another school year approaches, I’m preparing for what sort of experiences I need to provide students. My favorite thing to do the first week is see what’s in a child’s, “bag of tricks.” I love exploring and unlocking their talents, strengths and interests. We literally play the first week so I can see where we will go from there. One thing that does sadden me is children who feel scared or discouraged to create; they don’t even know where to begin. There is so much discover when we let our gaurds down, that can often lead us down a new road or avenue.