The Energy Bus

Getting back into the "swing of things" after our Holiday Break seemed to be very difficult for me this year!  I love my job, and I love my class, but for some reason, the first week back seemed long and drawn out, and things that don't normally bother me were really getting to me!  I needed a pick-me-up.  I am so glad that I started reading The Energy Bus by Jon Gordon.


The first thing that really struck me was the simple gesture that one person seemed to impact George's day.  The first day he met the bus driver, she did not leave his mind until he had seen her again.  While his attitude toward her was portrayed in a negative manner at first, it is obvious that she impacted him enough to wonder when he would see her again. 


This made me think- what kind of impact do I want to have on people?  Do I want people to remember me as the negative or positive person?  Of course, the answer to that is simple. The actions behind it are the difficult part.


I read on to discover Rule #1: Be the driver of your own bus.  Everyone has crisis situations.  Everyone also has the chance to react to them in two ways- negatively or positively.  How you choose to react will drastically affect the outcome.  


This makes me think about the summer I spent all of my free time applying for teaching jobs.  Everyone had told us it was a tough business, and the chances were good that we wouldn't succeed.  I decided to be the driver of my own bus.  Of course I was bummed each time I received a rejection letter, but support from my family and friends helped me by encouraging me that there was a reason for those rejections.  When I finally got my dream job as a First Grade Teacher, I felt like I had accomplished so much!


It is not always easy to react positively.  I get easily stressed when I feel unorganized.  I am hopeful that as I continue reading this book, I will learn more strategies of coping with this!


Rule #2: Focus your energy.  I loved how the book said that without focused energy, all it is is unorganized energy.  This fits perfectly with my lifestyle.  If you have energy, but aren't sure where it is going, it can be pointless energy!  It's better to take your bus and steer it in a direction, even if it doesn't always turn out as expected, than to be driving around aimlessly with no direction!


I have found this book to be a great read so far.  In my classroom, we have been talking about revisiting our hopes and dreams.  This fits in perfectly.  I am going to explain to students that, now that we know each other better, it may be easier to set goals.  I want them to trust me as their bus driver, but I also want them to each be their own bus drivers.  My plan (taken from an idea that Janet mentioned- thanks, Janet!) is to tape a bus on each of their desks as a reminder of our conversations.  On that bus, I am going to have them write one goal for the remainder of the school year.  I am excited to use this analogy.  I think it will be one they can easily relate to!