# 14

This is the first Motivational Moment in a few weeks. For those receiving Motivational Moments for the first time, I will be emailing positive and informational messages to you from time to time. (I will be trying to send Motivational Moments on a weekly basis) If you have a special story or event that has happened in your life and would like to share it, please email me at coachtomhughes@hotmail.com.

During the past several weeks I have relocated, and taken a new job. I will be teaching K-7 Physical Education and coaching high school basketball. Working with young children, I am finding out, is exciting, rewarding, and challenging. They are so full of energy and enthusiasm. They want to learn, and are eager for each new day to begin.

I get to spend some time each summer with Wayne Smith. Wayne is a Special Education teacher and high school basketball coach. Wayne will often share a poem, Which Am I? with campers during our "Yes I Can" Basketball camps. As the new school year begins, this is a question that we should be asking ourselves.

WHICH AM I?
I saw them tear a building down
A gang of workers from a busy town.
With a mighty heave and lusty yell
They swung a beam and a side wall fell.

I said to the foreman are these workers as skilled
As the ones you'd hire if you had to build.
And he laughed at me and said no indeed
Just a common laborer is all I need.
And, I can wreck in a day or two
What it took a skilled laborer a year to do.

And I thought to myself as I walked away
Just which of these roles I have tried to play.
Am I a skilled worker who works with care?
Measuring life by the rule and square
Or, am I a common laborer who walks the town
Content with the work of tearing down? (Anonymous)

As the new school year begins I wish you the best. Make this year a memorable one for both your students and yourself.

Teachers: A non-profit organization is supplying laptop computers for those teaching grades K-12. Subject area doesn't matter. Check out teacherlaptop.com for more information. This is legit!

Contact Tom at: tomhughes@motivationNmore.com

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