It’s ironic that this topic came up as the blog post for this week, as I have personally been experiencing this critical component to my success and how much it means to me. When I was in the process of looking for a new job last year, I went on the interview for my current job and when asked what would I most like to see from my administrative team, I replied simply with “Support.”
Understanding my background, support was a phenomenon that was foreign to me in the workplace. Towards the end of my 7-year career with my former organization, it became a “dog-eat-dog” environment, which left every man for himself. And when it came down to the nuts and bolts of the operation, this applied to my program Director as well. When I thought she had my back, as well as the backs of her supervisory team, we learned that her methods turned unscrupulous and we no longer had the support we once believed we did. Losing that support from her and essentialy being thrown out to the wolves without the support of our Director was a horrendous experience and one that I will never forget and one that I hope never to emulate. Now in my current job, I was offered a promotion this week, to be in a position where my support of my team is critical to the success of my team and I never want to be in a position where I feel I may have let them down. If they need to come to me, I want to promise myself that I will never abandon them. If you have a passion for the work that you are doing and this is especially true in education, you need the support of your peers, your colleagues, your family and friends in order to do an efficient and effective job-to know that what you are doing is for the greater good and will hopefully instill best practices for the future.
I am blessed to have the daily support of my Director, who believed enough in me to offer me the promotion. I have the support of my School Leader, who also believes in me to feel comfortable with me in this new position. And finally, the most important to me, is that I have the support of my parents. I still feel like a little girl rushing home to tell my parents I got an A on a test, to know that they support me no matter what and the least I can do to repay that support is to make them proud, makes me feel amazing and accomplished.
In thinking of a challenge I do not currently have, I immediately thought of a situation in which I am not able to fend for myself. Every month, I thank God that I am able to put my food in my house and on my table, pay my bills including rent and car note and still have enough left over to do the things I want to do, like travel and eat out. But, every month, I do worry what would ever happen if I wasn’t able to do this one month. Many times I’ve heard a variation of the saying that you’re only one paycheck away from the streets or from being homeless and I have to believe that I am a fighter who just can’t ever or won’t ever allow that to happen. But you never know. So in that scenario, I would have to draw upon strength and support from my God, whom I am very grateful to for blessing me and keeping me strong. For the day to day struggle, I would have to rely upon the support from my parents. Knowing that they are still here and will support me no matter what, physically, mentally, financially, as long as they are able to do so, I would have to seriously consider asking them for their support. I can’t even imagine my life without my parents and often, I thank God to be blessed that they are both still here. Cancer survivors and a host of other ailments, but at 74 and 66, my dad and my mom are still here and I am so thankful.
educatingourfuture 