Do Your Best

 In this season of my life especially, I have been saying this to others, but also hearing others say this to me. In every season, we should do our best. For me, this month of May has been filled with new beginnings and opportunities 😊. It has also been filled with preparation 🙏. You see, my students have been preparing for a state test in Reading. We call them the Standards of Learning (SOL) in Virginia. Students were provided a study guide at the beginning of Quarter 4 of school (April 15th to be exact 😉). Their Reading SOL was on May 15th. Exactly one month before the test, my students were given the study guide and were encouraged to review at least 15 minutes every night at home. In class, I was still reviewing. The week right before the SOL, I went over different passages (nonfiction, fiction, a poem, and a flier) and questions each day. We talked about content and test taking strategies along the way. Before SOL testing, I would share different strategies in the lessons. I also have said, "Do your best" before the SOL, but I really said the reminder in the last month. I know many of them don't like tests ( I don't like them either!), so every time one of my students expressed doubt or discouragement, I reminded them that they had been given all the tools they needed to be successful 👏. It was up to them to review the study guide and follow along and participate in our review. Now, I mentioned in a previous blog post how I joined my local YMCA in April. It has been one of the best decisions ever 💜!! It was this past week that I decided to attend my first class at the Y. Not only did I attend one class this week, but I decided to attend two classes! I attended a total body conditioning class on Monday and a cardio class on Thursday. Whew! Let me tell you...I got a workout! Monday's class had me stretching muscles I didn't even know my body had!! It was a lot of weightlifting, which was new and challenging for me, but I did it! I made it through 👏. It was fun and definitely worked my WHOLE body! I was also definitely sore for a few days after the Monday class. However, when Thursday came around, I went back to the cardio class. We used weights, but not as frequently. It gave me a great workout for sure! Now, I was a little sore from the cardio, but not as sore as I was on Monday. You see, at the beginning of both exercise classes, we gathered our needed equipment for the evening. Then, it was up to us to use the tools properly and follow along with the instructor. I had the same instructor for both classes. She was very nice and encouraging! I noticed she kept saying something throughout the class, especially to me since I was a new student. With different moves especially, she would be encouraging and say, "Do your best." The other ladies in the class were also very nice and encouraging. It was a friendly, welcoming atmosphere and like a family for sure. They welcomed me in from the very first class and I am grateful 💜!! In the case of the SOL test and exercise classes, all the tools were given to the students by the instructor. It was then up to the students to use what they were given and follow the directions and strategies taught. In my classroom, I modeled on my SmartBoard (think big flatscreen TV) how to highlight key information, take notes, and eliminate wrong answers on the sample passages. Students could see it from their seat. In the gym at the the Y, my instructor modeled for our class each move we were doing. I'm glad I am able to experience being a student and instructor as it's definitely given me neat perspectives 😊!! God also has given us a set of instructions, and that's His Word. We need to read and study it. We need to get it in our heart and mind. It's up to us what we do with it. James 1:22 tells us we should not just hear the Word, but be a doer. Colossians 3:23 tells us whatever we do, we should do it from our heart as to God and not man. Colossians 3:23 is my motto for life! I have to remember to give my best very day I live and in everything, whether that's preparing my students for a test or taking my exercise class. The reminder still stays the same: Do your best. If you know it was your best effort, that's all that matters. There was one more thing that myself and a few other people in my life have said recently and that was "I'm proud of you." I told that to my students after testing and I was told that by others for taking the exercise classes. Was it easy? No! Did I have moments of doubt of making it through a workout set? Oh yes! Did the students have moments of doubt and hesitation while taking the test? I'm sure at some point they could have. Did they keep going? Yes! Did I keep going? Yes! We stuck with it and completed our tasks 😊. I'm glad I did! I love the classes and can't wait for my next one! So, remember to always give your best and use the tools and resources you've been given. You should be proud of you 💜. Know I'm proud of you and God bless!