Today was the last day of school for my kids. We attended kindergarten graduation for one of our sons, and while we were there, I popped into my other kids’ classrooms to snap a quick picture of them with their teachers and say one more “thank you” to them. If there’s one thing I know, it’s that teachers don’t get thanked enough, so I didn’t want to end the year without them knowing that what they do matters.
I’ve thought back on the school year and have remembered so many instances where the influence of a teacher caused a positive change. Most teachers will never know just how deeply they have impacted their students, but the parents do, and the parents remember. The students may not always remember, but their growth is proof of good teachers.
To the teachers out there, doing their best, thank you!
Thank you for sacrificing your personal time to plan, prep, and grade.
Thank you for planning engaging lessons.
Thank you for making each student feel seen and loved.
Thank you for the endless hours you spend doing your job.
Thank you for encouraging your students and cheering them on.
Thank you for celebrating the wins, and comforting during the losses.
Thank you for remembering important things about each student.
Thank you for advocating for your kids— sometimes (sadly) you’re the only one who will.
Thank you for pushing your students to be better, do better, and learn more.
Thank you for protecting your students.
Thank you for creating a safe place for kids to be.
Thank you for taking time to communicate with parents and guardians.
Thank you for welcoming all students, regardless of their background or situation.
Thank you for never giving up.
Thank you for reminding students that they are amazing, capable young people.
Thank you for instilling in them a sense of goodness and kindness.
Thank you for loving and caring.
Thank you for what you do and who you are.
So from one parent who remembers, thank you. Thank you to all the teachers out there who work hard and spend countless hours planning, prepping, teaching, grading, and caring. Your job isn’t easy: it’s exhausting, you’re underpaid, and often times, overlooked. But please know that there are parents who do see you, and who are grateful for your efforts.
It’s graduation season! It’s a bittersweet milestone, but is definitely one to be celebrated. I remember my graduation day, and remember feeling so anxious but excited. I had my whole life planned out, and I was just sure it was going to go exactly how I wanted it to: go to college with my best friend, find a good guy and get married by 23, graduate as a nurse, have some kids, and so on. Boy was I in for a surprise when my plans didn’t follow that timeline, nor did most of my plans actually happen. I went to a different college than my friend, switched majors from nursing to elementary education, back to nursing, then eventually got my degree in secondary education. I didn’t get married until I was 30, and the kids came soon after that. As I think back and reflect on how the last 23 years of my live have gone, I’m glad my original plans didn’t follow my timeline. I would have missed out on so many things that were crucial to me becoming who I am today. But man, sometimes I wish I could go back and tell my naive 18 year old self a thing or to to give her some advice and encouragement about the future.
I figured other people might feel the same way, and might have something to say to their 18 year old selves. I asked several people what they would tell themselves, if they knew then what they know now. The answers ranged from the silly and light hearted to the serious and profound. So seniors, this one’s for you– a little advice from people who have been there, done that, and want to pass on some words of wisdom!
Don’t rush growing up. You will never have it all figured out.
Trust your gut.
Travel more, work hard, don’t spend more than you earn, save, believe, and invest in yourself.
Every life event and breakup led me to my husband and life I have today, and I wouldn’t change that.
At 18, I didn’t know it would take me 10 more years to get married. Don’t worry about that.
Don’t open a credit card— save for what you want/need.
Love YOUR life. Don’t worry about what others say or do. Let them live the life they want. You choose you!
It’s okay to not know what you want to major in. It’s okay to switch majors— college is an investment. Make sure you are getting out of it what you want.
Not all friendships will last past graduation. That’s ok. There’s new friends out there.
You are worth it. You matter.
If college isn’t your thing, it’s ok. It doesn’t have to be.
Spend time with those you love.
Never miss a chance to say thank you or I love you.
Take the risk— if it works out, awesome! If not, you learned from it and are better for it.
Make the effort to study and challenge yourself.
Advice given by others is second, learn to hear your own voice first and loudest.
It’s worth hanging around to see how the story ends.
The smart thing to do and the right thing to do are very rarely the same thing to do. But it never changes what the right thing to do is. Choose what is right. Always.
Take more pictures.
Always trust your instincts.
Apply for all the things! Enjoy everything!
Feeling dread all the time isn’t normal— it’s ok to get help if you need it.
Keep doing what makes yourself proud.
You’ll have so much more fun and peace if you don’t stress about dating. Don’t rush it!
Give yourself some grace.
You don’t have to have it all figured out at 18. The best is yet to come!
It’s ok to not know what you want.
Work on yourself— make yourself the kind of person you want to be.
Don’t be afraid. Go for it. If you fail, then try something else.
Try to save money.
Be smart with money.
Get the degree. Be able to support yourself.
If your friends are dragging you down, ditch them.
Don’t settle for less!
Be flexible— sometimes things don’t go the way you hoped they would, and you have to adapt and adjust.
Look for the good in people.
Look for the good in every day.
Be patient and the right partner will come when you are doing what you need to be doing.
Focus on figuring out what you want to do and work towards that goal.
Be gentle on yourself. Celebrate your wins, no matter how small.
You are doing amazing things.
You can do hard things.
Everyone you come across is fighting some kind of battle you know nothing about. Be kind.
Be patient with yourself and with others. We’re all doing the best we can.
Take a minute and reflect on your graduation day– what would you tell yourself?
Summer is almost upon us, and that usually means less structure and less of a schedule. And let’s be honest, that’s a blessing and a curse. It can be tricky to find a good balance between order and chaos. If you’re like me, you find yourself hitting panic mode right about now because how are you going to entertain the kids all day and get your work done and keep up with laundry and dishes and keep your kids’ brains from turning to mush?? It can be a lot. Let me take some of the stress off with a few helps! I’ve made a couple of summer reading resources that you can use. I’ve created a summer reading challenge with fun ideas of places to read and different kinds of things to read. I’ve also made a reading tracker. Both are available in color and black and white. You can decide if you want to have an end reward for completing the challenge and tracker!
Some kids will just automatically pick up books over the summer and will read for hours on end. Others need a little more encouragement. Either way, I hope these resources help your kids stay on track and keep their minds active over the summer.
Teachers, feel free to print this out and hand it out to your students before they leave your classroom for the year.
** As always, these resources are meant to be helpful. Please do not sell them, modify them, or claim them as your own. **
Trying new things is scary and hard sometimes! It doesn’t matter your age— the unknown can be intimidating. Picture books have a great way of teaching kids (and adults!) life lessons, including lessons about facing fears and having courage to try new things. While looking for some other books at the library the other day, I stumbled across a whole section of children’s books dedicated to this theme.
So if you’re like me (or some of my kids) and need a reminder that sometimes being brave is scary, these books just might be for you!
The Thing Lou Couldn’t Do by Ashley Spires
Lou is always up for big adventures with her friends… until they suggest that they play pirates up in a tree. Lou has never climbed a tree, and isn’t so sure about it. She finds all kinds of excuses to avoid climbing up to her friends, but when they all exclaim that the pirates need help, she knows she must give it a try. So she does, and she fails. After convincing herself that it’s not that she can’t climb the tree; it’s just that she doesn’t know how to yet. She decides that she will come back the next day and try again!
This story is perfect for talking to kids about being brave and trying again if it doesn’t work the first time. The illustrations are cute and well done.
The Magical Yet by Angela DiTerlizzi and illustrated by Lorena Alvarez
This book follows a young girl who just can’t seem to figure out how to ride a bike. She keeps trying, and keeps failing. She wants to give up… until the magical Yet shows up. With Yet, she can start to see that her dreams will come true, for Yet is a dreamer, maker, and one who finds a way. Yet is patient and encouraging when failures happen. Yet doesn’t give up! With Yet by her side, she learns to keep pushing forward and eventually gets to be where she wants to be.
This book is written in rhyme format, and is catchy and fun to read. The words flow well, and the illustrations are magical. It gives you the perfect dose of courage, knowing that your own personal Yet is right by your side as you try new things.
Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall
Jabari, his dad, and little sister head to the pool. Jabari tells his dad that he is going to jump off the diving board today. His dad offers encouragement and cheers him on. As Jabari gets closer to the diving board, he realizes how high it really is. He begins to come up with excuses and reasons to not try. His dad gives him a pep talk and tells him to take a deep breath and tell himself he is ready. Jabari follows his dad’s advice and begins the climb up the ladder. He got to the edge of the board, took a deep breath, and told himself he felt ready. He took the leap and discovered it was really fun! The book ends with him telling his dad that he’ll do a double backflip next.
The pictures in this book are wonderful, and the story line is perfect for teaching kids about how to work up the courage to try something new.
Jabari Tries by Gaia Cornwall
Jabari is back, but this time, he is determined to make a little machine that can fly across his backyard. Everything he tries doesn’t work. He’s getting frustrated and wants to give up. When his dad comes and gives him a little pep talk, he tells Jabari to “gather up all his patience, take a deep breath, and blow away all the mixed feelings inside.” Together with his little sister as his helper, Jabari gets the courage to try again. He gives it one more try, and this time, it works! He is proud of himself for not giving up and for having the courage to finish what he started.
One of the most important lessons to learn as a child is to have courage and be brave. We’re all faced with tricky situations, but being brave can change everything. These picture books all do an excellent job of illustrating just that. These books would be great to read with a class at the beginning or end of the year as kids head into a new season and part of their life!
How many times did you answer the question, “What do you want to be when your grow up?” as a kid? Can’t count all the times? Neither can I. It’s a common question to ask kids and teens, and it’s often a question that kids don’t know the answer to. There are so many jobs to choose from, and when your knowledge is limited, it’s hard to make a choice. Thank goodness the jobs we might have chosen as ten year olds weren’t set in stone, and we had the chance to change our minds. I mean, I’m pretty sure if they had been set in stone back then, the majority of my fifth grade class would have ended up being marine biologists— because that was a big thing in the 90s!
Kids and teens all seem to know about the community helper type of jobs— police, fireman, nurse, doctor, and teacher. What they might not know, are the subcategories under those jobs as well as so many other kinds of careers out there. Providing kids with knowledge about various career fields will empower them to choose a job that suits them best and fits their interests and skills.
While kids need this knowledge, we can’t just expect them to know where to go to get it. As teachers, parents, and leaders, we need to provide opportunities for them to learn about all kinds of jobs. So how do we do this?
First, we can make it part of our curriculum when kids are young. If you’re teaching a unit on human body systems, you can include a little bit of information about the different kinds of jobs people can do that deal with body systems. If you’re teaching a unit on recycling and caring for the Earth, invite a sanitation worker to come in and teach about garbage pickup and recycling. For a music unit, invite a musician to come in and talk to the kids.
Second, as kids get older and start to think more seriously about their careers, it might be a good idea to have a unit on different types of jobs and the kind of education you need to do them. When I was teaching junior high, my school held a school-wide career exploration day. People from the community would volunteer their time to come teach students about their profession. We had a wide variety of careers represented, making it an experience that every student would be able to benefit from. Students had the chance to choose four classes that they wanted to attend. Each rotation was about 20 minutes in length, and presenters used that time to talk about their job, what they do, what kind of education they obtained, and so on. Students were then given a chance to ask questions. With career presentations from bankers, authors, EMS personnel, business owners, animators, IT, and beyond, it was always a huge success.
Third, when appropriate, and at the right age, students can participate in a job shadowing experience. This is helpful because it allows them to see first hand the daily tasks and responsibilities of the job in which they are interested. This kind of hands on experience will provide more insight than simply reading an article about a job.
Another thing we can do to help students know more about potential careers is to have them take a career aptitude test. Typically, these are more beneficial once a student is a little older and has more of a grasp on their interests. I spoke with a vocational counselor, and he recommended My Next Move, which I tried. I also tried Career Explorer. Both assessments asked similar questions, though Career Explorer seemed to go a bit more in depth. Both gave career suggestions at the end of the survey, with links to click on to learn more about that career. Not surprisingly, my results on both tests suggested that I become a teacher or a healthcare worker, both of which I have done in the past, and both of which I have very much enjoyed.
When we provide kids with options and resources to explore potential careers, they are able to make more informed decisions. Do they have to have it all figured out right now? No. But it never hurts to have a little head start!
I was mindlessly scrolling social media when I came across a reel that had the caption, “What I won’t forget about being your teacher.” The caption grabbed my attention, and I was partly expecting to hear a story about students who caused such havoc that the teacher would never forget them. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find the opposite. The teacher in the reel recounted two different stories where students stepped up and stepped in. So there I was, sitting at my table eating my lunch, suddenly crying about these kids I’ve never even met! Teaching is like that— you become part of a community of people with shared experiences, and your heart is reminded of the things you also experienced as a teacher. It’s really quite beautiful.
In the first story shared, the teacher shared of a time when he allowed students to pick their own seats for the last term. As the kids settled into their new seats, he noticed that there was one boy left at a table by himself. He wasn’t sure how he was going to handle this without embarrassing the student or creating a scene. Thankfully, his worry was calmed by another student who saw the need, and quietly went to sit with the lonely student. Together, they spent the last term of chemistry class at that table, just the two of them. Crisis averted, and no one was left alone.
In the second story, he shared a story about when he was chaperoning a high school dance. He looked down the hall to see a girl, sitting on the floor, completely alone, and looking quite distressed. Again, worried about how to approach this, he contemplated what to do. However, once again, another student saved the day. Another girl, by her own choice, came to the rescue, approached the girl on the floor, and spent the next little while talking with her.
In addition to being deeply touched by these two stories that he shared, I was reminded that, so often, teenagers get a really bad rap. And while there are some kids who are the reason that bad rap exists, there are a ton others who prove the bad rap to be incorrect. Teenagers really are cool kids, and have so much to give.
I was reminded of a time during my years teaching when I asked students to pull out a piece of paper and a pencil. Students hurriedly rifled through their backpacks and binders to find what they needed. One student, typically disheveled and unprepared, sat there, looking a bit panicked. Without hesitation, the girl next to him quietly and kindly set a piece of paper and pencil on his desk, turned back around, and sat patiently while she waited for my instructions.
Another time, I asked students to get into small groups to complete an assignment. I watched as they quickly formed their groups, with the groupings being exactly as I had thought they would be. Unfortunately, there were a couple of students left out, clearly feeling out of place and not sure what to do. Thankfully, there was a group of boys who saw a need and acted. They invited the un-grouped kids to join their group, and everyone was included.
One experience that comes to mind is a personal one. My family moved to a new state as I was entering my junior in high school, and I often found myself feeling very alone. This was amplified when I was somehow put into a U.S. Government class full of seniors, non of whom I knew. I was so grateful for the students who sat near me who took it upon themselves to make sure I was included, seen, and heard. I don’t remember their names, but I do remember their kindnesses toward me.
Time after time, I saw things like this happening in my classroom. Time after time, I was reminded that teenagers really aren’t all they are made out to be. Sure, sometimes they are a bit aloof and unkind, but that’s because they are teenagers. They are still learning how to be people. But underneath it all, they are kind, thoughtful, and observant. The future is in good hands with this generation of kids!
The winners of our HGU Build A Better Future Scholarship have been chosen! There were so many amazing projects submitted. I was amazed by the dedication, time, and passion that went into each project. It was so hard to choose the top five; I spent a couple of weeks going through each application, making notes, going back through applications, and working with our HGU team to narrow it down. It was tough, but we finally settled on our decisions.
And the winners are…
Ryleigh Brenamen-Trumbull
Project: ALS Awareness Campaign
Ryleigh is passionate about ALS research and care. She is seeking to provide a better experience for patients in the throes of ALS diagnosis and treatment. Through her dedication and time, she has hosted several fundraising events that have raised over $29,000. The money has been donated directly to Hoenselaar Clinical Trial Program in Detroit, Michigan. She says, “In my community, the impact of ALS became deeply personal when three individuals, including my grandmother, were diagnosed with the disease. This experience highlighted a significant issue being the lack of research and funding dedicated to ALS. Despite the devastating nature of the disease, which progressively affects mobility, speech and breathing, ALS remains underfunded and receives limited attention compared to other diseases. The lack of resources for ALS research is a critical concern. While families like mine are left to cope with the emotional and physical toll of the disease, there is insufficient investment in scientific research and treatment development. The current pace of progress is slow and the options available for those affected by ALS are limited. It is clear that more funding and support are needed to improve the lives of those diagnosed with ALS. Increased awareness and investment in research are essential to accelerate the discovery of effective treatments and ultimately a cure. Advocating for more resources is vital to ensuring that individuals and families affected by ALS have access to better care and hope for the future.”
Maria Avila-Silva
Project: Pathfinders
Being an immigrant herself, Maria knows how difficult it can be to find the appropriate resources for accessing higher education. Her project aims to help immigrant students like herself build confidence and access to the resources needed for post-high school education. She says, “Growing up in my community, I’ve seen so many talented immigrant students held back by obstacles like self-doubt, lack of resources, and the belief that higher education is out of reach. I’ve watched friends with incredible potential question if they’re “good enough” or wonder how they could afford college, and it breaks my heart.
As someone who came to the United States from Venezuela at the age of nine, I understand these struggles firsthand. I’ve been in their shoes, feeling like an outsider and unsure of where to turn for help. That’s why I’m passionate about my work with Pathfinders, where I help immigrant students find their path to higher education. Through this program, I’ve shown students that college is not just a distant dream, but an achievable goal. Whether it’s guiding them through applications, offering mentorship, or reminding them that their passion matters. I’m driven to help students overcome the barriers that hold them back and empower them to believe in themselves and their futures. Every student deserves the chance to believe in themselves, and I’m committed to making that happen.”
Eva McIver-Jenkins and Ava Gonnella
Project: Laps for Philly
Eva and Ava knew more could be done for underprivileged kids who wanted to learn more about swimming. Together, they teamed up to create an amazing organization that provides swimming lessons and gear for kids who need it. Eva wrote, “I grew up on the pool deck, surrounded by the sharp scent of chlorine and the joy of teammates cheering each other on. My first swim team, based in West Philadelphia, was small, spirited, and predominantly Black—one of the few in the city where I felt I truly belonged. But as I moved to more competitive teams, I began to notice how rare that space was. Often, I was the only Black swimmer at the meet. It made me ask: Why aren’t there more kids who look like me in the water?
The answer wasn’t talent—it was access.
In response, I co-founded Laps for Philly, a grassroots initiative to bring aquatics to underserved communities. We fund swim lessons, lifeguard certifications, and gear, and partner with schools and centers to host workshops that reframe swimming as more than just a sport. Swimming is a life-saving skill, a source of joy and recreation, and for many—like me—a pathway to scholarships and academic opportunity.
Our mission is simple: go to where the people are—not just physically, but with understanding and respect. Through Laps for Philly, I’ve seen kids fall in love with swimming and realize the water has always been theirs, too.”
Fowwaz Moeen
Project: Food for Friends
Fowwaz became aware of the problem of food insecurity, and sought to do something about it. Using resources available to him, as well as securing additional funding, he was able to build several garden beds and restore a damaged greenhouse on his school’s campus. The garden beds are maintained by fellow students, and the crops grown and harvested are donated to local food pantries. Fowwaz wrote, “When I first walked into room C311 as a shy freshman, I never imagined the UNICEF club would define my high school experience. As I progressed from member to President, I expected my impact would be contained to UNICEF. However, the defining moment of my leadership came during the 2022 monsoon floods in Pakistan, which left 1/3 of children with malnutrition. I launched an urgent campaign to raise awareness and funds. Yet I didn’t have to look past Houston to see food insecurity firsthand.
In Houston, nearly 30% of low-income residents live in food deserts (areas where access to fresh, affordable food is scarce). In one of the most multi-cultural cities of the country, this issue impacts a diverse community—over 644,710 people in my home county of Harris alone. It affects the most vulnerable members of our community, impacting their health, well-being, and—for the 1 in 4 children in Houston who are food insecure—even their education.
Access to fresh and healthy produce is a basic human right, and by addressing food insecurity, I realized I could bridge socio-economic divides in my city. That’s when the idea for Food for Friends was born.”
Japteg Singh-Bamrah
Our top winner this year was Japteg Sing-Bamrah. In addition to the scholarship award, Japteg will also receive an additional $5,000 to continue work on his project.
Project: Solar Mech Machine
Japteg saw a need, and sought to make it better. In an effort to make farming more efficient and sustainable, Japteg designed, created, and implemented an innovative renewable energy solution. He wrote, “India, being an agrarian country, faces two major challenges in rural development: electricity availability and post-harvest losses. In many areas of my community in Punjab, over 40% of post-harvest produce is lost due to inadequate electricity, lack of dryers, and insufficient cold storage facilities. These losses lead to severe financial setbacks for farmers, contributing significantly to the growing number of farmer suicides.
There is an urgent need to adopt renewable energy solutions that can operate in standalone, hybrid, or combined heat and power (CHP) modes. However, without adequate government support, such technologies remain unaffordable for most farmers. After conducting cost and feasibility analyses—considering renewable sources, economic viability, and mean sunshine hours—I discovered the potential of a Stirling cycle-based CHP system to convert external heat into mechanical power.
Following my selection at the Jigyasa Hackathon, I received mentorship at CSIR-IIIM Jammu. Through extensive design analysis, load calculations, and CAD modeling, we developed a functional prototype—SolarMech—a solar CHP system using air pressure as the working fluid. This innovation presents a promising, sustainable solution to the dual challenges of power scarcity and post-harvest losses in rural India.”
Congratulations to this year’s winners. Stay tuned for coming posts spotlighting each of our winners, with more details about their projects!
To learn more about our scholarship and what was required of these amazing winners, click here.
