This week marked the annual Awards Day at our school. I have some feels on this topic so don’t make any assumptions just yet. But first, let’s set the stage, shall we?
THE BACKGROUND
February 2017. My sweet, funny, friendly 6th grade boy informs me that he is going to work towards a community service award to be recognized in May. (Thanks for the heads up.) This is mucho important to him. Recognition keeps his wheels turning. He needs a total of 50 hours of documented community service earned over our 4 quarter school year for recognition on awards day.
“Whoa, 50 hours.” I say. “How many hours do you currently have towards community service, Mark?”
“16 1/2.”
Pretend that you sense my excitement along with my blank stare and expressionless face.
Boy maybe senses my thrill and says “It’s okay Mom! I only need 33 1/2 more over the next 12 weeks!”
Continue with your perception skills as you further sense my hesitant pride that although he is good at math, he obviously has no comprehension of time management. Blank stare continues.
While I do love his commitment for a community service certificate – or maybe it’s because there is not a bat’s chance in hell that he will be recognized for top academics – I share some verbal rules associated with said goal.
1.) I will assist you in completing these hours as so far as driving you and purchasing anything you need to donate to your project(s).
2.) My purchases will not constitute your logging a donation as community service hours.
3.) And I will not play or assist playing of bingo for a banana. Will not.
Said contract is verbally agreed to and a plan is made – a good plan. God intervenes and in 10 weeks, the boy accomplishes worthwhile community projects that meet the 50 hour mark.
Wow. 50 hours by the “deadline date”. Way to go, buddy! (You owe me $300 in gas money.) We are excited for his recognition at awards day. Parents gather. Administrators speak. Clapping commences. And the time comes for the community service announcement for his grade. Half the class is called up by name to receive their certificate for what we realize is 25+ hours (not 50 – GULP) of community service recognition. Furthermore, no tiers of hours recognized. 25 hours, 100 hours – same shout out. Wait, what? Let it go let it go let it go let it go.
Names are quickly called out and “ants in his pants” Mark awaits his name at the end of the line because Wyrick = last in the ABCs.
Nice kid name called, lovely kid name called, darling kid name called “. . . and MARY Wyrick.” Mary Wyrick. MARY Wyrick.
Ooohhh snap. Well . . . way to cross that stage, Mary. LOTS of lessons to be discussed tonight. We really are so proud. And especially proud of his good humor. He took it in stride like a man. Awards Day, why you mess with me?
Next Wyrick kiddo up to bat.
May 2017. My creative, bookworm, solid A 8th grade gal realizes that she will not be recognized at awards day this year. She succumbs that she is a loser and worthless at every endeavor that she has ever attempted. This is followed by a wonderful night of parental logic and sympathy which is further pulverized by an unstable hormone convention. On awards day, her loving dad takes her to breakfast during the ceremony – something that I am not particularly proud of but actually not sorry for either. Know your child. Pick your battles.
It’s safe to assume that awards day isn’t quite like Oscar night and the Elton John party for us Wyricks.
THE OPINION
You may be surprised to know, however, that I am actually all in for awards day. ALL IN. Recognition and validation are always great for earned accomplishments. Validation makes people happy and there should be more of it when we experience excellence. Make it known that I am also a big “letter N period letter O period” for participation ribbons and certificates. They waste paper and ink and slowly kill school administrative assistants.
I do have a point. I do. Here’s what I want to go on record:
Awards Day Recipients ~ Hello you world getter! We think you are awesome and amazing and we are proud of YOU and proud to know you and proud to be associated with you. Do not for one second be embarrassed or apologize for receiving your gift of intellect or artistic skills or athletic prowess AND shining that gift through being a hard worker. Oh, and if you received a character award, this is amazing too. People recognize that you are twinkling your particular God given gift and, in voted awards, you are liked. This is wonderful.
Some people will poo poo your newly acclaimed recognition. It’s only because they FEEL like poo poo. For you award holders, be honored, humble and helpful with your recognition and you will be the pied piper with happy followers and genuine applauders. Success requires both luck and work and your recognition was not just based on a whim. Well done!
Awards Day Watchers ~ Well hello you temporary seat warmer. It’s hard being in the audience sometimes. It’s like your chair sinks a few inches lower when people stand up. Maybe these days bring out the worst in you when that jealousy bug or comparison virus or Its Not Fair flu hits. Maybe you really did deserve a formal accolade and it didn’t materialize like you expected. Or maybe this year, you really didn’t earn an award because of a less than stellar effort on your part. Both scenarios pretty much suck when these days arrive.
Now this is challenging BUT it’s a perfect time to practice being happy for people. Always know that others’ highs do NOT make you low. That’s not how it works. Your award is waiting. You had a good year too in your own way and maybe these particular awards don’t match up with your personal successes. It’s not the time to call these days or awards or recipients “stupid”. It just doesn’t match you specifically this year and it’s okay. Some years are a success when we keep our mouth and nose above water. Be confident in you and keep treading.
I’m sad that they don’t have an award for “Most Improved Percentage of Missing or Late Assignments” because Meredith’s record of 14,000 late and missing assignments last year improved to just 3,000 late and missing assignments this year and she would have nailed that one.
Perspective, my darlings. Let that stomach acid settle and those shoulders drop. You are a.o.k.
Maybe your award is one of these that just didn’t make the announcement cut this year. If so, I applaud you for your focus. Keep being better.
- “And the student that showed the most restraint for not strangling a teacher this year is . . .” (This could easily be a teacher award with regards to students)
- “And the student that consistently made it quickest to class on time without knocking down anyone in the hall is . . .”
- “And the student that is promoted to the next grade despite the most atrocious locker is . . . “
or maybe
“Would the following students please stand if you
- Served less detention this year than last”
- Have returned ALL checked out library books”
- Purchased a lunch that didn’t encompass Cheese Its, a brownie and Gatorade”
- Had less than 3 items this year in Lost and Found”
- Stopped flipping your water bottle immediately when a teacher asked you to”
- Still have a working pencil in your supplies bag”
And the audience would erupt in applause. Celebrate your award.
THE BEST FOR LAST
Whether this week left you thankful or lost or frustrated, please be confident that you have a personal appointment at any time with The One that you can say “Thank You for my opportunity or recognition” to or “Please Help Me find a goal that I want to work towards” or “Forgive me for wanting to punch said winner or non winner in the throat”. It’s soooo easy to talk to God. Don’t be embarrassed. Nothing is taboo with your conversation with Him. Just talk in your mind, talk out loud or write it down. Your feelings and goals about earthly rewards are important Him because your genuine successes reflect Him. You’re on the right highway; just ask Him to steer you towards your optimal lane. Give it time and let yourself listen.
And then there is THE award. It’s hard for our tiny ant minds to grasp but just having an inkling of faith in the existence of a man who was born of woman and of God – this faith, even if new or researched or questioned – gets you a mansion forever with no fear of death and fewer worries on Earth. Your perspective for worldly awards will take on a new meaning of which they are still worth working for but with more freedom and enjoyment maybe than before.
Keep your spirit close at hand, my friend. You are a recognized, announced, certificate holding child of God and a brother or sister of Jesus (one that knows much about wonderful awards and bitter disappointments). Rest assured, you have the one award that counts.
Read this 2 Timothy 4:8
and this Hebrews 11:6
and this John 14:2-3
Live and love well, my friends. And dare to delta.
Amy
© Amy Wyrick and daretodelta.com, 2017.
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