By ABBY LINVILLE
I am always excited when I get a chance to write for this space, as I have twice previously, because I love the opportunity to share positive thoughts about the high school students whom I enjoy working with on a daily basis. Even at the end of a long school year, facing some very exciting weeks of warm relaxation, I feel the same. I am proud of my students and their various accomplishments, large and small. I am also proud of who they are, the good choices they make, the hard work they put in all year, and the bright futures they have ahead of them. To this end, I want to share the story of one of my tenth grade students.
I have seen Travis each day for the last 178 or so in my first period English 10 class. And over the course of those days, Travis has worked his way through an incredible transformation. Most noticeably, he has lost 88 pounds of weight through diet and exercise. He also traded his glasses for contacts, which has affected his appearance as well. Additionally, he has gained muscle through his daily workouts in the school weight room and at home. I have been impressed by Travis’ hard work and diligence to improve his health, but I have been even more impressed by the way he went about it: He just decided he was going to do it. Travis told me he felt like he wasn’t succeeding the way he wanted to, and so he made this decision in an effort to show himself and others that he can accomplish anything he wants to. He has been incredibly self-motivated and worked through this process nearly on his own.
Part of what has worked so well for Travis is that he spends time each day planning his diet and exercise. He sets short- and long-term goals for what he wants to accomplish. He researches different options for how to get to where he wants to be. He has practiced mindfulness to such a degree that he is willing himself to a healthier life; he says that he sees benefits in his life other than just the physical ones. Travis says his grades have improved as well as his relationships with family members and his ability to relate to others. I couldn’t be happier for him or more impressed by his hard work.
I am inspired by Travis, and I have also tried to be more mindful in my own life. A year ago, I made the decision to quit Facebook and Instagram. It was one of the best choices I ever made, and I immediately knew it was a great choice for me when I felt more focused on people and places directly in front of me rather than on a screen. I recently deleted my Snapchat and Twitter accounts as well, and I am 100% social media free. I did this in an effort to be more mindful of my time, what I want to do with it, and what I want to accomplish in this life. I felt that the time I was spending on social media could be better spent doing other activities. I want to spend more time talking to my daughter, reading, and gardening, and less time seeing what my “friends” ate for dinner or are angry about politically.
As summer approaches and maybe you have a little bit more free time, I urge you to take a moment to think about how you spend your time. Each of us has one life to live, and a set amount of time to do it in, and we as individuals can decide how to spend the time we have here on this earth. Like my student Travis, we can each make an effort to be more mindful and make choices that will add benefit to our lives.
Abby Linville is the tenth grade English teacher at Sheridan High School. Her class submits student-authored columns to the Hamilton County Reporter during the academic year.