Recognition and affirmation are two-way streets. During my career as a principal I made a special effort to continually recognize student efforts and to acknowledge the work of the teachers for whom I was responsible. Because I practised an open door policy, teachers were encouraged to send students to my office during the school day for special recognition. Three times per year I made formal inspection visits to teachers’ classrooms and followed up with a written evaluation. A summary evaluation, with a copy to the individual teacher, was submitted to the school board where it formed part of their teaching record. Most teachers appreciated these evaluations as they dealt with first-hand classroom observations of the teachers’ efforts. School administrators relied heavily on these reports when staff members applied for promotions. My consistent efforts to recognize their effectiveness as teachers helped many to reach their career goals.
My high school addiction to academic success continued to spur me on during my career. While working, I earned four university degrees, including a doctorate, all through part time study. All told, it took 28 years, with some lengthy breaks, from the time I enrolled in my first university correspondence course until I completed my doctorate. Although this consumed thousands of hours on weekends, during holidays and in my spare time, the end result brought me increased salary benefits, promotions, and huge satisfaction, along with recognition from family, friends, colleagues and superiors.
After retirement the opportunities for recognition and affirmation slowed to a trickle. I no longer volunteer for community or church organizations as I once did and I interact with fewer people. However, my hobby as a writer has, over the retirement years, taken precedence, and has proven to be a huge source of satisfaction because dozens of my stories for several years have been published in a well-regarded volunteer hard-copy volunteer magazine, CANADIAN STORIES, and currently in its attractive online sister magazine, STORY QUILT. With the expert help of my editor daughter, Valerie McDonald, I have also self-published two collections of my work.
Apart from my writing hobby, my family is now the main source of inspiration for me. Celebrating birthday milestones, special holidays, family vacations, and aiding family members, all bring me recognition, affirmation, and satisfaction. I am still an important person in their lives. Being able to travel to more than 25 countries, many with an energetic, keenly interested female travelling companion, has contributed to my information data base and given me new insights that aid in my writing.
The silver medal I earned in grade nine catapulted me into a pursuit of excellence at school and throughout my life. It has also prompted me along the way to recognize and affirm acquaintances, friends, family members and colleagues. The recognition that I received for my achievements in the cadet corps, in my teaching career, academic pursuits, volunteer work, and in my later life, my hobby writing, has fulfilled and affirmed me as a person. I was seen, heard, known, and understood.
I exist. I matter. I’m important.
