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President Melanie Hameed: Grand Rising, NEOEA!

Ecclesiastes 3, King James Version —

¹ To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

² A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

³ A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

⁴ A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

⁵ A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

⁶ A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

⁷ A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

⁸ A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.”

I recently saw a cartoon on Facebook (forgive me). It was a picture of Splinter, the teacher of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and the turtles when they were just wee chaps. He was holding their hands and on the back of Splinter’s jacket was the word “TEACHERS.” In the next frame, in the same arrangement were the turtles, grown this time, with their teacher. On their individual backs were the titles “Doctors, Engineers, Artists, and Scientists.” It caught me that not one of those professions, or any other we could name, could exist if WE, educators, don’t exist. Not one.

As we enter the spring season and the days grow longer, remember, there is a time and a season for everything. As we enter into this season of rebirth and renewal, do not forget to renew your spirit in the knowledge that you have done a great work with the students you serviced this year, and any other for that fact.

I started this article with a Bible verse that I say to remind myself that everything has a season. If you find yourself in the middle of a dark and trying season, know that daylight is just around the corner. If you find yourself in the middle of a bright and prosperous season, enjoy the sunshine on your face and allow yourself to bathe in it. Always remember that without you on those front lines, in those trenches, nothing moves forward, nothing advances, nothing grows. However, the time for harvest comes at the end of your long toiling. Keep your shoulder to the plow, be encouraged and uplifted and enjoy your season.

By Melanie Hameed, NEOEA President

Published in our Spring edition of News & Views