Confessions of a Teacher

Kellyanne Dunaway

Description

This self-improvement book shares one teacher’s tenacious journey as she strives to build the students and athletes in her path, a life-and-death walk where the underdog is served.
In Confessions of a Teacher, she shares the many stories of her teaching and coaching days. She tells how she’s fallen in love with more people than she dares to admit. Some of her loves were nearly invisible, some were fragile, and others were bold, but all of them were beautiful. None were of a sexual nature, but all are very much a part of her, even now.
Dunaway expresses her appreciation at being able to witness and celebrate the everyday people in her life. These experiences remind her everyone has a story, a starting place no other human being truly understands. She celebrates the world of staggered starting lines, hard times, and the unexpectedly beautiful outcomes that came from not giving up.

Sujets

• Friendship
• Coach
• Confessions
• Teacher
• Self-help
• Coach (homonymie)
• Underdog
• Hope
• Love
• Les Confessions

Informations

• Publié par: Balboa Press
• Date de parution: 12 décembre 2022
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9798765236109
• Langue: English

Extrait

CONFESSIONS OF A TEACHER
HOPE FOR THE UNDERDOG
 
 
 
 
KELLYANNE DUNAWAY
 
 
 

 
 
Copyright © 2022 Kellyanne Dunaway.
 
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
 
 
Balboa Press
A Division of Hay House
1663 Liberty Drive
Bloomington, IN 47403
www.balboapress.com
844-682-1282
 
Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.
 
The author of this book does not dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of any technique as a form of treatment for physical, emotional, or medical problems without the advice of a physician, either directly or indirectly. The intent of the author is only to offer information of a general nature to help you in your quest for emotional and spiritual well-being. In the event you use any of the information in this book for yourself, which is your constitutional right, the author and the publisher assume no responsibility for your actions.
 
Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.
 
 
 
ISBN: 979-8-7652-3609-3 (sc)
ISBN: 979-8-7652-3611-6 (hc)
ISBN: 979-8-7652-3610-9 (e)
 
Library of Congress Control Number: 2022920279
 
Balboa Press rev. date: 12/09/2022
Dedication
Every good and beautiful thing is multiplied by a million when it’s shared with loved ones. I know because I’ve felt the emptiness that comes from being alone with my joy. That was fine, and of course it’s likely to happen to us more than we desire. But it freaking amazes me how the little things are so much more colorful when we share them. Those things reverberate in our conversations until we are filled us up with such pleasure that our relationships are also richer and deeper. I know love grows here.
For the genuine connections that sustained me in all kinds of weather, you are probably not even aware of the impact you made. Uncle Robert understood the “Neither” world that I cherished. You know, that place that isn’t greatly valued at home but is a niche that blows your mind in every healthy way possible? Born in ’57, I craved all things athletic and competitive. Carolina and Jean know. My coaches and my teammates valued it. Yep, Coach R saw it in me. Thank you for giving this woman a place to experience that magic. I’m personally thrilled for the tremendous opportunities female athletes have these days. And oh, how it magnifies a girl’s potential to succeed.
For all my colleagues who became my school family, there is no relevant compensation for the beautiful love and intellect you have shared with the world. I know you are gratified, as am I, by seeing young minds blossom and confidence reflected. Even more so, the value of our connections and relationships with students. Those things grasp our hearts until we are more resilient and intentional in our every decision. Patience being on the top of that list, we begin to perceptively see the whole person even when their behavior is simply impossible. For all those precious times we laughed and cried, cheered victories and suffered our losses together, my heart is full, and I thank you immensely. You are in the middle of me and all of my stories.
For my children, I need nothing more than your presence in my life. Everything you are and everything you do comes to me like a colorful sunset blending into a star-filled night. You are stunning enough, but then God gave me more! There is my sister, my partner in crime, my evil twin, my confidante, my bestie, my Esther. I just start laughing. We shared careers, raised our kids, celebrated grandkids, golfed together, coached, retirement life, our faith, adventures, and vacations, and now she has pushed me to complete these stories to give to you. When you have a friend like this, nothing is ever too small to celebrate or too big to handle. Esther, this book is very much yours! Cal and Sue were a constant inspiration as well! They have been the ultimate silent partners, always greasing my wheels and cheering me to sanity. Love you all for the fire you bring every day, rain or shine, and the ultimate friendship we celebrate!
Finally, my students and athletes, you are my darlings. Thank you for giving all of yourselves to the learning process and to your high school experiences. I address each of you individually when I say that you are mighty, worthy, beautiful people, ready for the ever-changing world. Remember, the only way to succeed is to get off the couch and take a risk with something that serves your honor. If it doesn’t work out, get up, brush yourself off, and try again. That’s how we all arrive at our destinations. As always, “I love you. Have a great weekend, and please come back safely to me on Monday!”
Contents
Preface
Acknowledgments
Introduction
1     A Fortuitous Frustration
2     After High School
3     Direction Produces Purpose
4     Everything Isn’t Equal in Love and War
5     Breathing Life into a Career
6     Life Is Short
7     The Compromise Dividends
8     A New Direction
9     Alma Mater Life
10   The Fruits of Purpose
11   So This Is Work
12   Cabin Cravings
13   Another Door Opens
14   Who Stands for Me?
15   Mom’s Right! It’s More Than a Game
16   Champions above All Champions
17   The Kindness of an Earthly Angel
18   What the Hell, Chico?
19   Unbelievable Grace
 
Preface
You may not know it, but you’re winning at life right now. It’s true that winning implies victory over the competition. It says others aren’t as successful as you are this time around. You’re standing alone on the top of the podium, the mountain top of triumph that glows throughout the kingdom, acknowledged in history books and in retold stories around the office and glowing campfires. OK, we took it a little far, didn’t we?
Indeed, life isn’t a competition. After all, we aren’t all running the same race with the same fair starting line. And what of the different obstacles we face? Children with cancer, various parental influences, born into money or born into poverty, endless influences that spring us forward or hold us back. Here we are, billions of human beings spread all over the earth, just trying to find our way through our own personal mazes.
When I was a child, I could see the sun peek out behind the clouds and fantasized about the treasure at the end of a rainbow after a welcomed rain. Imagining the diamonds and rubies gushing out of the treasure chest as they spilled around my feet, I marveled at the concept that grown-ups weren’t rushing out to gather their share. Then I realized that they were too busy and tired to feel excited. I didn’t want to grow up.
As the years passed, I came to understand that dreaming is a necessary and powerful tool. We can’t deny that wanting more out of life is a strength of the human condition. Pursuing career dreams and comfortable living conditions ultimately provides us with priceless personal rewards. Eventually, those pursuits can induce an uncomfortable stress, but that’s not a bad thing. After all, it’s nature’s way of increasing our awareness and kick-starting our reaction mode.
Ultimately, a day comes when we recognize that choosing to see the world through a positive lens adds infinite depth and fulfillment. It comes from sharing life’s intricacies with those precious people who share our love. When they lean into us, we know we’re in a good place.
In those moments, our goals have greater value. Our achievements, even the tiny steps it takes to get to those achievements, give us reason to celebrate. Within the beautiful conditions of secure, transparent relationships, our vision becomes clearer, and the goals we pursue become that much more achievable. One powerful byproduct of such an experience is that we pleasantly discover that we are more than we ever imagined.
Dreams unexpectedly change over time and under the pressure of uncontrollable variables. The key is to embrace and build a better way. I didn’t know for sure if it was a perfect plan, but one day I retired. After thirty-seven years of teaching and thirty-two seasons of coaching high school kids, I followed many great friends into a new era.
These days, looking back gives me a heart full of reasons to celebrate. I’ve fallen in love with more people than I dare to admit. Some of my loves were nearly invisible, some were fragile, and others were bold, but all of them were beautiful. None were of a sexual nature, but all are very much a part of me, even now.
The earth travels so quickly around the sun that these days I find myself with a sense of urgency to share their stories. That’s why this book had to be written. We’re going to celebrate the world of staggered starting lines, hard times, and the unexpectedly beautiful outcomes that came from not giving up.
Here’s the catch: In truth, I’m not a psychologist or a renowned sociologist. What I have to offer is not mine at all. It is, however, a heart full of respect and admiration for the intimate details of people who have reasons to feel defeated. I just know that these heroes simply decid