I have heard people say I don't want to be a part of this group or that group because there is always drama! Unfortunately it's true no matter what we do in life, some how, some way, there will always be some form of the word. I have worked with my husbands command in FRG's (Family Readiness Groups) and now the PTA for my child's school. Working in these types of groups can be great it is very rewarding and you are working towards a common goal. For the FRG it could be raising money to throw an awesome Christmas party for the kids of the command. For the PTA it is giving support to the children and the teachers of the school.
As I sat in a class today doing my job, I listened as a teacher spoke to her children about working together cohesively. She made groups of four and asked them to work on a task she gave them 15 minutes to see what they would or could achieve in those few minutes. Some groups barely got all four members names on the page, some were well into gathering the details needed to complete the task and others were bickering about how to get started. The teacher often reminded them of the time that was ticking away and that time would run out and they would then show what they had done together as a group. I watched as one group had a girl who took lead and pretty much did all the writing for the group, she stated all details that they needed and began highlighting the key words in their story they were researching. My concern as I watched this was what is everyone else learning? I watched as another group had one person recording information, another child highlighting the key words, and the 2 others were reading. In this group each child took responsibility for a job and in the end they got the furthest on their paper. They were each as an individual able to express their opinions about the words they were searching and were able to work together to come to agreements.
BEEP BEEP! BEEP BEEP!
The timer sounded and that was it they were finished. I then noticed some kids sat there having nothing done. Not one thing written down, and maybe just a few words highlighted. They looked disappointed. They looked confused. You could tell they didn't know what their next move was. But the teacher asked them to turn in what they had. As the kids made their way back to their seats, some with dazed looks on their face the teacher began speaking to them not asking them what they had completed but instead explaining to them that not every task given to them will be an easy one. That every time they are grouped up it won't always be with those who work well together. It won't always be the person who matches you best. Sometimes in fact you will be put with just the opposite. People who might be loud when you are quiet, some might be very good at math while others are very good at writing. But no matter who you are grouped up with I guarantee that someone in your group will have strengths that you don't have and there will be others who have weakness's that you can help with.
Sometimes even as an adult I think we can get caught up in thinking we are the only person for the job. Sometimes it is easy to say I will do _______, but when it comes to actually doing it we are just like those kids wondering what our first move should be. Instead of asking how should I begin this task, we get frustrated with those who offer help. If everyone could just admit their weaknesses and not carry pride around like its a Prada purse then maybe there would not be conflict. I was told today something that made alot of sense. Do you think drama goes and finds those who stay out of everything, the ones who don't put themselves out there to be hurt or to be talked about. Of course not. If I wasn't volunteering my time and working my behind off everyday no one would have anything to talk about. If I just stayed in my home and never put myself in a volunteer position I would never have to interact with people who need the light on them and want to take all the glory! I would live a pretty simple life, but the Honest to Goodness Truth is I love it! NOT THE DRAMA, but I love being at the school. I love seeing my child's smiling face when she comes in for lunch everyday. Yes that is a part of my job, but I also love being there and loving on all the children that love me in return. I love making someone feel better when they are having a bad day. I love thinking of others before myself and that is why I do it! Not for the glory, not for the recognition, not to cause DRAMA and not to make friends although along the way I have made some pretty amazing friends.
So when I hear someone say "no I don't want to be apart of that association there's too much DRAMA!" It saddens me because they truly don't know what they are missing. A smiling child, a thankful teacher, a heart full of blessings. I am thankful to be a part of the PTA!
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