LOL 7-18 LOLInspirations

This is my newest crop of shells, ready to be worked into pieces of jewelry. However, they didn't come to me looking like this. I had to first remove the shells from their natural environment and scrub them free of the grime that marred their individual attributes- it is only then that I can fully assess their potential. This first step in working with shells reminds me of what I do as a teacher. Each year, a new crop of students shows up in my classroom. It is my job to take them out of their natural environment of "just let the tide take me where it will" and challenge them to reach their full potential- to get them to share their unique gifts with others. But in order to do so, I often have to scrub away at the layers of accumulated academic and emotional grime that hides many students' potentials. Only then can I show them how their individual qualities- scarred or flawless, vibrant or subdued, simple or complicated- can be worked into masterpieces of art. Thanks, Danny, for the beautiful treasures you brought back for me from your Gulf Coast vacation. LOL.