I have never witnessed a more magical moment. Truly, May 31, 2019 was probably ( to date) one of my proudest moments as an educator. I had a discussion back with my principal (Dr. Fischbaugh) at the end of last year. My ending question was, "What is it that I need to improve upon as an educator." The words back were the following: "I would like to see you as more of a leader in the community." 

Therefore, when I found out I had the opportunity to create my own action-research project this year, I was quite excited. I think the purpose of a good action-research project is one that: 

• Forces you to think about your weaknesses
• Pushes you to reflect upon an issue within education and actually "take-action" 
• Requires thought-provoking analysis and ongoing preparation
• Embraces frustration
• Pushes you outside your comfort zone
• Allows you to feel eustress and sometimes a bit of anxiety
• Pushes you along in conquering your own professional dreams that you may or may not have arrived at just yet

Allow me to go through each bullet point as I explain what I have learned and recommendations and lessons learned I would share with others. 

• Forces you to think about your weaknesses: My own weaknesses lie in organization. I am incredibly organized when it comes to my instruction. I have everything mapped out. I know exactly where the students are going to move and at what time. I always pre-write questions and anticipate answers. I spend hours and hours lesson-planning every weekend. I do this because I am not a naturally organized person. However, what I do struggle with is putting myself out there and leading events, organizing pamphlets and tickets and emails. I knew if I did this action research project it would be another part-time job. It was. Why? Well it was my first time ever organizing a large event. However, it also forced me to be organized and detail-oriented and to think ahead and anticipate every little detail that could possibly go wrong. 
• Pushes you to reflect upon an issue within education and actually "take-action." I have a huge heart for Social Justice Issues. I could go on and on. In fact, I have been wrestling with this issue since I first took a contract position at Fox Chapel. Am I really where I'm supposed to be? How in the world am I helping education equality? What am I doing? I have been wrestling with these questions for quite some time. I think a big part of the reason why I teach Global Education through literature and history and science within my classroom is because this is a huge part of my philosophy as a teacher. This was the first time I got to create an event where I could model inclusivity and encourage students to think globally and talk about their experiences, their life passions, their struggles, their viewpoint on the world and so much more. For once, I felt like I was doing the work I was put on this earth to do. I still wrestle with whether or not I'm in the right place in the right environment to do this work (and this is yet to be determined) but I felt like on May 31st, I accomplished my philosophy and then some. 
• Requires thought-provoking analysis and ongoing preparation: This event was much more difficult than planning a wedding. I have a new appreciation for those who organize and plan events for a living. It is stressful and exhausting. It is never-ending. However, it requires you to think at all hours of the day and night. You tweak and you tweak and you tweak. The work is never done. 
• Embraces frustration: Were there frustrating times? Of course. No "research" project ever goes as planned. There were times students skipped rehearsals. There were times students were not the most cooperative. There were time I wish I had done something differently. However, you really get nowhere in life if there isn't frustration. The most frustrating moments are the ones that teach us the most about life and learning. Growth requires frustration. Frustration is inevitable. 
• Pushes you outside your comfort zone: I was completely outside of my comfort zone. I was the "go-to" person for the first time. This was me. I wasn't relying on anyone else. I had to delegate work (which I hate doing.) However, you realize that you need to rely on others for their strengths. "It takes a village to raise a child." Well, it takes a village to plan a successful event. For once, I did have to turn for help. It was humbling for me to do so. I realized, it is okay every now and again, to ask for some help, some support, some assistance, different viewpoints and recommendations. 
• Pushes you along in conquering your own professional dreams that you may or may not have arrived at just yet: Where I currently am now is not where I will be three years, four year, nine years from now. I think my professional goal is to teach students to have a voice, a global perspective, to fight for change, to fight for equality through writing and literature. I have not a clue what job would combine all of that. However, after this experience, I must say, I am more open to think about what it is I want to change in education, what I want to get out of it, how I want to change it. I have new perspectives and ideas and dreams now I always had but are now bubbling to the surface more and more. I am eager to see where life takes me.