2024- Lessons and Successes
Happy New Year! This Fall semester felt like a speeding train—just as I thought I had my bearings, the moment passed, and I would find myself refocusing yet again.
There are benefits to this pace, of course; boredom isn’t something I’ve experienced lately. However, living in a fast-paced world makes it challenging to pause and truly recognize the beauty and joy around us when we’re always running from one place to another.
This year has been full of growth and discovery, and I am thankful for the ability I currently have to stop and reflect on it. Here’s what happened in my life this year.
Embrace challenges—they often lead to growth and a greater appreciation of others' unique strengths. In my new role with Vocal Youth Miami, I’ve been able to leverage a variety of skills, including curriculum planning, teacher support, and working directly with young people. Facing my initial apprehension about teaching middle school students has been transformative—I’ve come to appreciate their unique strengths. While they can be challenging, it’s in those challenges that the greatest opportunities for growth arise.
Teaching and mentoring inspire mutual growth; learning from others deepens your craft. At FIU, I continue to teach and supervise future music educators, guiding them through various stages of their professional journeys. Watching strong teaching in action is truly inspiring—it gives me new ideas and deepens my love for this work. I also cherish my time directing the University Singers and look forward to some exciting collaborations in the coming year.
Passion fuels discovery; when you pursue what excites you, learning becomes a joyful and rewarding experience. This year, I worked on an exciting project with a colleague and friend from FIU, which we were proud to present. These experiences remind me of the wealth of learning opportunities around us if we remain curious and intentional in pursuing our interests.
Strong communities nurture success—both for the students we guide and for ourselves as educators. As educators, we build and nurture communities for our students, but it’s equally important to find spaces where we can be supported. My work with the High Five group has highlighted the isolation many beginning teachers feel and their need for extra guidance. If you know a new teacher, reach out and help them connect. And if you’re feeling disconnected, call someone—it’s never too late to build your own community.
Consistency and clear expectations are key to fostering growth and unlocking potential in learners of all ages. Teaching a K–5 children’s church choir once a week has been a delightful challenge. Preparing a Christmas Cantata with six songs and acting seemed daunting at first, but these young learners amazed me with their ability to retain and build upon what we practiced. The takeaway? Consistency is key. Setting clear expectations and supporting students regularly leads to remarkable growth.
So what does 2025 hold? I’m not sure yet, I know I want to continue to work on my health and activity goals. What good is learning all these things if I can’t live a healthy life to enjoy them in? I also know I want to continue to see how my work provides inspiration for my writing. I would like to publish two articles in 2025. And- I want to schedule real vacations. 2 per year. These feel like attainable and realistic goals.
