A Word from Wayne

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It’s a great day to be a Dillo! These past few months have been challenging to say the least, but this last week has been interesting as we enter the final week of school. I believe I have been asked “what if” more times in the past few days than possibly ever in my life. The questions range from the weather on graduation night to the future of education as we know it.

“What if’s” make for good planning. Looking at possible scenarios so that we have backup plans, and sometimes back up plans for our back up plans, is a prudent process. Sometimes things go according to plan, and we are often surprised that it went exactly as we planned it. Sometimes despite all our best efforts, stuff happens.

Robert Burns, the great Scottish poet, is famous for this statement “The best laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men Gang aft agley.” The country singer, Van Zandt, in his song Get Right with the Man says that if you want to hear God laugh just tell him your plans.

As the superintendent, I am in charge of the district, and I am responsible for how things go, but ultimately there are many things out of my control. The weather and the Governor are not in my wheelhouse. I have learned not to worry about the things that I have no control over.

Worry is an unhealthy thing. It leads to stress, which often leads to fear, which often leads to regrettable decisions. Fear is a terrible motivator because it is often a temporary thing.

I remember years ago there was a popular slogan that was on many a car bumper that said “NO FEAR!” A buddy of mine opted for the redneck translation that said “Ain’t Skeered!” I think we could use that slogan again.

When the storm clouds rise and the lightening strikes, it is usually for only a few hours. Then the sun comes out, and there is a pleasant freshness to the day. We train our kids not to fear a storm, for storms are part of life, but to be prepared for when they come and know they are temporary.

This COVID-19 storm has lasted longer than any of us had thought, but history has shown that pandemics come, and pandemics go. This one will be over, and there will be a freshness to the day when it has finished its course.

But until then, our seniors will graduate, we will continue to educate children and worry will not be our motivator. We will prepare for the worst and hope for the best. In all things we will learn and grow from all our life experiences.

No fear.

Go Class of 2020, and Go Dillos!