Reality Television

Reality Television

October 25, 2018

Michael Earnshaw

@mearnshaw158

This is the true story, of one principal, chosen to pick up his kids from an arcade filming a reality television show.  

When my friend texted me that she was at the arcade with my kids after school, and they were filming a reality show there, I can’t lie, I was little excited! I’ve never been on television before, and how cool would it be to see me in the background? Of course, the drive over had more traffic than usual, and the texts kept coming in, “Hurry up, just signed the waivers.” “Uh-oh, they’re about to start.  They may have locked the doors!”  

I made it and got in! We happened to be seated at a table that was directly in the shot. Two of the cast were at a table having a deep conversation. My friend and I chatted, I don’t even remember about what, and kept glancing at the filming going on. My son was playing a game, nonstop, and not using any tokens, which boggled my mind. My daughter sat hunched over the seat of a racing game, staring at the cast and crew. It was obvious she was trying to get into a shot, or just intrigued with what was happening.  

This is when I came to the realization that our kids have a false sense of what reality is. Everything about this show was far from reality. Now I’ve known this but seeing it firsthand really drove home the fact. The cast members were told how to enter the arcade. They were filmed six, yes six times, walking in. How can one not stroll into an establishment correctly? The arcade games they were to play, they were already chosen by the crew before the cast arrived. That’s how my son was playing for free. These pre-selected games were set to play for free for the cast. There were about 5 of them. Now I've been an avid gamer since the 80’s, and it would not fly if the games I could play at an arcade were predetermined for me. I was very proud of my son for discovering this loophole and saving us some money.  

The entire vibe of the arcade, which we’ve frequented many times, was awkward. Conversations were not natural, weird silences and pauses, and nobody seemed to know where they could or couldn’t go. The actors didn’t even say, “Excuse me,” let alone acknowledge that any other patrons were there. I left with many thoughts in my head, trying to place them correctly like that perfect game of Tetris.  

Educators, we are the true stars of reality television. We don’t get to redo everything until it is perfect. We are in control of the environment that our kids enter in our schools and classrooms each day. Every day we are performing in front of a live studio audience. We must teach our kids that mistakes are a part of life, that they can learn from them and become stronger, and to fully think out their choices and actions before executing because we do not have an editor or crew making everything look perfect for us.  

Experiencing this has made me more determined to let our kids know that they create their own reality, they are in control of their own future, not a film crew and editors. 

The Mentor

The Mentor 

October 12, 2018 

Michael Earnshaw
@mearnshaw158

Everyone needs a mentor, but not everyone can be a mentor. When choosing, or serving as one, it’s important to hold a few key characteristics. Mentors must provide guidance, be active listeners, collaborate to help solve issues, and pose reflective questioning for their mentee. No matter how long one has been in the game, everyone can, and will, benefit from a strong mentor.  

A few months back I was participating in a Twitter chat and we were posed the question, “Who is your mentor?” Without hesitation I responded with, “My wife!” My wife is my mentor for my role as a lead learner and Principal. There are many work situations that arise that I will not address until I get home and check with her. I believe that with her not thinking of the “best practices” that schools implement, and instead, thinking as not only a parent, but as a parent of a child with special needs, helps to give me perspectives I never would have thought of on my own coming from an education background.

On October 7, 2018, I came to realize that my wife is not only my mentor for work, but for life. She has never run more than 13.1 miles at a time, but on this cold, dreary, rainy day, she proved to be the best mentor I could ask for while running my 4th Chicago Marathon.  

I don’t care what anyone says, but no matter how many times one runs a marathon, they’re never truly ready. Yes, training and diet have been put in, but there are always factors that can change the expected outcome.  

The mentoring began on the evening of October 6, 2018 after coming home from a scrumptious pasta dinner provided by my sister-in-law. As I was getting my gear ready for race day morning my wife asked how I was feeling. I told her I was nervous. She knew what about, but her response was, “Well what are you nervous about?” I explained taking the train by myself, not knowing which stop to get off at, and the cold, breezy, rainy weather we were expecting. She knew there was more. Instead of just stating the obvious, she asked, “Is that it? Anything else?” I began to explain that I was nervous about the run. Honestly, this training season was less than stellar. I had great intentions at the beginning, but as the extremely warm and humid summer was in full effect, I found myself skipping many runs while pretending to be a pro pool volleyball player in our friend’s backyard. Healthy eating was out the window as well. I kept telling myself, “You’ve run this before, you got it. Start fresh Monday.” Well, one Monday turned into another, and then another. I got runs in, but not like I should have. My wife knew this, but still had me reflect and answer honestly. She responded with, “This probably won’t be your best time, but you will finish, and that’s ok. You’ll know what to do differently if you choose to run again.”  

The day of the race went worse than expected. The train ride I was nervous about was fine, but after I got through marathon security my left foot decided to go deep sea diving in a puddle. Before the race even started my sock and shoe were soaked. I was in Wave 1, so I was able to get an early start. About 1.5 miles in I began to feel a blister that had already formed on my toe. Guess which foot? Yep, the left. The pain was already borderline excruciating and my mind had already made up how the next 24 miles would go.  

Throughout the first 13.1 miles my watch displayed texts from my mentor like, “You’re doing great! Way to go! Keep it up!” I was able to see her and my friends at the halfway mark. She asked how it was going, how was I feeling? I responded, “Not good. My toe is killing me, I already feel a blister which is causing me to run funny and now everything in my right leg hurts.” She asked if I wanted a change of socks that she brought, but I refused since it had started raining again and they would just get soaked within a few minutes. We exchanged a kiss and she told me I'm doing fine and it’s ok if I needed to walk. Up to that point I hadn’t.  

The next mile my legs felt like lead and all I kept hearing over my music was my mentor's voice, “...it’s ok if you need to walk.” And that was the beginning of my demise. Once I started walking for a few feet I could never get back into a running groove. The next 11 miles were a combo of walking and jogging. Yes, I said it, jogging.  

Around mile 16 I actually contemplated quitting, but then I realized I didn’t even know where I was and it would be miles to get back to where I was going to meet my mentor afterwards. Plus, how could I quit when I’ve always taught my kids that once you commit to something you must see it through. I kept chugging along and came to the decision that my marathon career would be over after this one.  

I crossed the finish line in 4:29:27. I know, that’s not a bad time, and finishing a marathon, let alone in those dreary conditions, is an accomplishment. I’m upset with myself. Upset with my lack of training, lack of diet, and the ego I had all training season that I would be fine since I've run 3 marathons before. I let myself down.  

That night, in the comfort of our home, my mentor asked, “How are you feeling?” When I explained how I was upset with myself she didn’t respond with an, “I told you so.” Instead she asked, “Well, what do you need to change? Do you want to continue running like this? If so, what do you need to do differently?” She knew the answers to all these questions, she always does. But being the great mentor she is, she put the questions on me so I must self-reflect.  

My wish is that as school leaders we all remember what it means to be an effective mentor: provide guidance, active listening, collaboration to help solve issues, and pose reflective questioning. As leaders we serve as mentors to many, and may also be in charge of finding additional mentors for those we serve. 

My mentor has all these characteristics and uses them with all aspects of my life.  This has made me a better leader, servant, husband, father, runner, and individual. I can’t thank her enough and will be looking to her for the 2019 Chicago Marathon and many more lifetimes together. I hope you find yours. 

A Child's Dream

A Child’s Dream 

October 2, 2018 
Michael Earnshaw
@mearnshaw158

Childhood dreams are precisely that…dreams. Without giving any realistic parameters, ask any youth what they want to be when they grow up and you’ll get enough athletes to begin new leagues and divisions in every sport, enough movie stars that the Hollywood Blvd. could wrap around the world numerous times, enough doctors that disease would be nonexistent, and police and firefighters that crime would be null and everyone’s lives would never be in danger. This is what makes us smile at the dreams our kids have.  

As we get older most begin to realize that their dreams were great as they were kids, another fantasy world that filled their days when they faced minimal adult responsibilities. We understand that we must now support not only us, but significant others we choose to spend our time with and if we’re blessed, children of our own. Due to this many of us settle on noble careers, but they don’t bring the fame and fortune that we envisioned as a youngster.  

Ever since my first concert, Pantera, Sepultura, & Biohazard, I wanted to be a Rockstar! Throughout my high school years and 20’s, I was at a punk rock show pretty much every weekend. Some were big venues; others small intimate clubs like Off the Alley or the Fireside Bowl. The feeling I got while dancing in the pit or skanking to a great ska band took me to another place. All of my doubts, stress, and depression were gone, and I was transported to another world. I connected with these bands and their messages, and I wanted nothing more than to be able to have others have their problems melt away with my messages.  

This continues to this day. While I’m training for a marathon or attempting a PR in the gym, I’ve got music on, and yes, it’s still punk rock, death metal, or ska. It takes me to another place where all the clutter is sorted out. I can focus on the task at hand. Unfortunately, I never took up an instrument or got a band going, so I am finally realizing that my dream is another childhood fantasy that will evaporate like so many others’.  

I came to a realization while driving home from school one day. I realized my Rockstar dreams have come true! I am not on a stage performing for disgruntled, confused adolescents nightly. No, my stage is a different one. My stage is our school. My bandmates are the fantastic staff at Oak Glen. My audience is our families and students.  

Each day we walk out on stage we must be on 110%! Our fans have paid for our performance. They are expecting greatness, they are expecting to be taken to that magical place I experienced while singing along to my favorite punk bands, and still do.  

I know that I’m accomplishing this each and every day when I see the smiles on my staff, students, and parents. Giving them high-fives and fist bumps every time I pass by, praising their hard work and efforts reminds them that I am here for them. I’ll get comments from students now saying they want to be a principal or teacher when they grow up. They are seeing the difference we can make. I can’t do this alone, I’ve got my band with me. Everyday we’re rocking out for our students at Oak Glen. What tune are you singing?