We all have defining moments in our lives - meaningful experiences that stand out in our memory. Many of them happen because of chance: A lucky encounter with someone who becomes the love of your life. A teacher who spots a talent you didn’t know you had. A sudden lo...
When you hear the term leader, does the default setting in your mind go to same place that mine does? Many larger-than-life figures in history, such as Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Jr., Nelson Mandela, or more recently, Jeff Bezos and Steve Jobs are often at th...
When I was 13 years old, I took a trip to Wisconsin Dells with one of my best friends and his family. We spent the days and nights going to water parks, riding go-carts, playing mini-golf, and doing everything that Wisconsin Dells has to offer. On one of the last days...
Four years ago, my oldest son was finishing up his first cycle of summer swimming lessons. All went very well for Mason until it was time for the final lesson of the year. Anyone who has taken their child to swim lessons knows of the infamous "diving board lesson." Sma...
Educators across the country have arrived to school for another year or will report to duty in the next week. I am entering my sixteenth year in education and could not be more excited. There is nothing like the beginning of the school year. Students arrive with new cl...
I have written in the past about my mother and her horrific battle with metastatic breast cancer. My mother passed away on September 1 and there have been a number of situations since then that have brought up memories coupled with a series of emotions. I am cert...
It was more than 33 years ago, but I remember my first day of preschool like it was yesterday. This was not a great experience for a number of reasons which is why I have such a strong memory of it.
I attended a neighborhood preschool about three blocks from my home. I...
Many years ago I was coaching baseball for Western Dubuque High School during the summer. We had a great deal of talent, but were severely under performing as a team. We lacked team chemistry, made a number of mistakes, and at the time of this story had 9 wins and 17 l...
