Student Competition

Our journey on the road to BPA National Conference began in September 2008 when the current guidelines were published on the Web. Contests were assigned to our twenty members and research began immediately on the topics at hand. There were new members that had to "learn the ropes" on what would be expected, what responsibilities were at hand, and what routine had to be established in order to be the most successful.

Results of the students' hard work were first realized at the Regional Leadership Conference at Frank Phillips College in Borger. I accompanied nineteen of my chapter's members to the conference with suits, projects, and equipment in tow. There were conflicts to work through with a major basketball game the same evening, but I am proud to say that I work with outstanding, supportive coaches that agreed to work with me in solving the problem allowing all athletes to perform to their best abilities and still play in the big game. I am pleased to say that initially fifteen of those members qualified for state competition. The remaining three were called on stage and were state alternates. Eventually, one of those alternates was moved up to qualifier status.

The race was on to perfect and correct any problems with materials that required early submission, make hotel reservations, submit travel requisitions, and make final state conference registration arrangements. We are now in Austin and have finished the rounds of competition and await announcement of the final results.

Here is the dilemma that I face: One of the qualities I possess as a teacher is the adoption of every student that passes through my classroom door. Every child is different and carries a variety of emotions and personality styles. But every child becomes one of your own, no matter who they are. I have expectations for each one and carry the anticipation that they will follow their dreams to become the person they desire to be. As I sit here in my hotel room my blood pressure threatens to rise in anticipation of this afternoon's award ceremony. My reward comes from the students feeling that they did a great job in their presentations and/or application contests. No matter the result, I firmly believe that knowing you did your best is the final reward. However, the competitive side of me knows that they want their "best" to be rewarded with a medal or plague indicating that they have advanced to the next level. I feel the same disappointment they will realize if they do not advance to the next level. I will be excited with those that will have the opportunity to continue their competition journey.

Oh, the perils of teaching...oh, the perils of parenthood. I anticipate disappointment. But I want my students to know that I am extremely proud of them. I realize that through their youth, they see the present moment before them. I am at that age (golden, ancient, "old as dirt") that I see the reality in what they have accomplished to get to this point. I realize that the process of attaining this level this year is completely different from the process that realized whatever success was attained last year. I realize that this is the last opportunity for some...and another learning experience preparing for next year for others. But I also realize that there are thousands of members that did not qualify to compete at this level and hundreds that found their dreams dashed at the results table cutting off their progress into the final rounds. As I made my way through the Convention Center, corners were filled with crying students who just discovered that their routines were now over.

I just pray that all of these students at this conference will come to realize the accomplishments that they have made and the valuable lessons they have learned that will follow them through life further than any medal or plaque will. I pray that some day they will look in the mirror and have the revelation that their experiences gained from this part of their life is being fully realized in their career and the services they are providing to our society.