The Selfie: A Reflection of Only A Moment.

The "selfie," a phenomena so large that it has merited it's own "Sharing Selfies" section of the App Store. Millions of millions of pictures are taken each day by individuals within the environment around them. It used to be said, "look into the mirror and what do you see?" Now we look from moment to moment and reflect who we are in the world around us. Furthermore, we have become conscious of the the fact that we can control what we look like, sound like, and act like in whatever environment we choose. The "selfie" is the epitome of momentary personal awareness and individual presence in the world.

Each year we are saturated with data that ranks students, schools, and societies. Data that works to claim competition in certain innate values, that if we fall behind as a society we are endangering our long-term capacity. We hear words like achievement gap, poor performance, lack of rigor, grit, resiliency and project this onto a greater world. We accept standardized data as a projection of future performance. Momentary information expounded onto a greater whole.

Funny thing is that momentary assessment is just that, momentary. It doesn't project to the future. It doesn't reflect the past. It simply reflects that moment in time. In the 1998 NFL Draft there was great debate between a strong-armed Washington State quarterback Ryan Leaf and an intelligent son of a legend but individual who could not win the big game, Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning, as to who should be the top selection. Peyton was seen as lacking grit, rigor, and the championship valor to be successful exiting college. Ryan was seen as having a terrific upside and a ready for the NFL body. Today, Peyton is perhaps the best quarterback in NFL history. His greatest competition during his era, a 6th round pick who served as a backup on 1997 national champion Michigan Wolverines, Tom Brady.

Data is easy to analyze. Conclusions are easy to draw. However, they are not indicative of the final outcome. They are reflections of moments, times seen in the best light possible. It is only after the journey is complete that we can understand how each image fits within the tapestry of the whole. The same is true in schools as in life. In September, it is easy to say these students have great potential. In November it is easy to complain that this class won't get it. In February it is easy to say that child is lazy and doesn't have the grit to be successful. I would have been all of those children. From quickly having the correct answer in September to not paying enough attention in November to not turning in any work in February. Data points and conclusions. Moments of self that I had responsibility for and control of. Momentary assessment that truly did not project any future. As one teacher expressed it to my parents, "your child is destined for custodial and maintenance work." Both of which are fine professions, her conclusions would have been accurate had she simply added in my own home.

I didn't learn grit in the classroom. I didn't learn resiliency through standardized tests. I learned those values and skills in another place, a similar place to many children of my generation and my children's generation. I learned through sports as both a viewer and a participant. I remember moments of coming from behind as I swam the 100 breaststroke. I remember training in things I was passionate at and not very good in. I remember choosing roles in intramural basketball within which I could excel but still understand my limitations. I could play a mean point-forward, dribble, pass, and rebound but please don't make me shoot. And through sports, we learn how to struggle, fight, and come back. All of Chicago is watching as the Blackhawks try to crawl back into a series with the LA Kings, in which they were down by 2 games and on the verge of elimination. A city that remembers being down by 2 games last year to Detroit and demonstrated the resiliency and grit to come back. All playing against a team that just came from behind to overtake the Anaheim Ducks.

Photos shot in the moment. Awareness that surrounds us. The "selfie," a momentary experience in time from which we can make a judgement that only represents that point in time. Our experience is much more than this. Our experience is one of millions of images that capture the culmination of millions of moments creating a tapestry of our world. It is in the collection of these experiences that we truly learn grit, resiliency, and valor.

Hoosiers