K-12 Education: Untangled — Trends, Issues, and Parental Actions for Public Schools
Raising kids can be tough! I know because I’ve been a single mom who raised two kids on my own. And when they get in the K-12 public education system, learning the ins and outs of that system can get you all tangled up, especially when you’re a parent of color. You need to know about the current trends and issues as well as resources necessary to navigate within the system. That’s what the K-12 Education: Untangled podcast is all about — providing you with tools, information and practical actions to help you and your children succeed within the complexities of K-12 public education.
K-12 Education: Untangled — Trends, Issues, and Parental Actions for Public Schools
Episode 118: Navigating Life's Hurdles with Tenacity
Ever wondered how tenacity can transform your life? Join me as I share my personal journey through the education system and managing a chronic health condition, illustrating how tenacity has been my steadfast companion. Through stories of resilience and determination, discover how tenacity can be the catalyst for achieving your goals, building resilience, and fostering a positive mindset. We'll explore the nuances of persistence and how this quality is indispensable in overcoming obstacles and embracing growth both personally and professionally.
In this episode, I introduce the Tenacity Framework, a six-phase guide designed to enhance resilience in the face of challenges. From realization to growth, each phase is a stepping stone towards empowerment and positive change. Drawing from insights in my book, "An Upward Perspective," written under my pen name Iris C. Simpson, I offer a deeper understanding of how to navigate life's hurdles with grace and gratitude. This episode is a heartfelt call to tap into your inner strength, encouraging meaningful change in your life and those around you, with a sprinkle of humor to keep things light.
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Welcome to another episode of K-12 Education Untangled. My name is Dr Kim J Fields, former corporate manager turned education researcher and advocate, and I'm the host of this podcast. I got into this space after dealing with some frustrating interactions with school educators and administrators, as well as experiencing the microaggressions that I faced as an African-American mom raising my two kids, who were in the public school system. I really wanted to understand how teachers were trained and what the research provided about the challenges of the public education system. Once I gained the information and the insights that I needed, I was then equipped to be able to successfully support my children in their educational progress. Support my children in their education progress. This podcast is at the intersection between education, research and parental actions. If you're looking to find out more about the current trends, issues and themes in education that could affect you or your children, and you want to know the specific actions you can take to support and advocate for your children, and you want to know the specific actions you can take to support and advocate for your children, then you're in the right place. Thanks for tuning in today. I know that staying informed about K-12 education topics is important to you, so keep listening. In this episode, I'll be sharing my thoughts about why living with tenacity is vital.
Speaker 1:Many people associate tenacity with children, especially students as they progress through school, but I think that tenacity applies to adults as well those that are making the best of situations that may not be optimal. That are making the best of situations that may not be optimal. Tenacity involves courage, moving forward in the face of rejection and maintaining your energy and motivation in spite of setbacks. I know this to be true personally, as I've been dealing with a chronic health condition for several years. I'm doing fairly well, yet some days can be challenging. This episode is about understanding what tenacity is and the importance of tenacity in maintaining a positive life perspective. Let's untangle this. Tenacity causes you to break through the barriers in your life, whether those barriers are health-related, career-related or personal relationship-related. The secret to success in trying times is to start where you are, use what you have and do what you can. You see, strength arises in times of testing. Let's start out by defining what tenacity is.
Speaker 1:Tenacity is the quality of being determined and persistent in the pursuit of a goal despite difficulties, setbacks or obstacles. It involves a steadfast commitment to continue striving forward with resilience and resolve. Tenacity is characterized by the ability to maintain focus and dedication over the long term, often requiring a combination of inner strength, courage and an unwavering belief in yourself and your vision. An unwavering belief in yourself and your vision. It encompasses traits such as perseverance, grit, determination and an unwillingness to give up, even when faced with adversity. Ultimately, tenacity is about staying the course and pushing through challenges to achieve success and fulfillment. Why is tenacity important? It helps in achieving goals. Tenacity allows you to stay focused on your goals despite obstacles. It's often essential for reaching long-term objectives because it keeps you motivated and driven through challenging times.
Speaker 1:Tenacity is also important for developing resilience and adaptation. It's closely linked to resilience. It helps you bounce back from setbacks and adapt to new circumstances, which is crucial in a world that's constantly changing. Tenacity is important because it develops innovation and creativity. Tenacious people are more likely to take risks and try new things. This attitude fosters innovation and creativity, leading to unique and innovative solutions and advancements.
Speaker 1:Tenacity is also important for building confidence. Overcoming obstacles and continuing to pursue goals builds self-confidence and self-efficacy. This confidence can inspire others and create a positive feedback loop of success. Confidence feeds competence, so that you can pass on the things you've learned to others. Tenacity is also important because it develops persistence through adversity. Life often throws unexpected challenges our way. Tenacity enables you to persist through adversity and often this persistence is what separates success from failure. Tenacity is also important for a growth mindset through learning and personal growth. Every challenge offers a learning opportunity. Tenacious people learn from their failures and use that knowledge to improve and grow, both personally and professionally. Overall, tenacity is a critical component of success and fulfillment. It helps you navigate life's uncertainties and create meaningful, lasting changes.
Speaker 1:Mindset and attitude are also factors that are produced from being a tenacious person. They are foundational aspects that significantly impact living life. With tenacity, mindset and attitude produce a positive attitude. Maintaining a positive outlook helps you stay motivated and resilient In the face of adversity. A positive attitude can transform perceived failures into lessons and stepping stones towards success. Mindset also develops optimism and hope. Having an optimistic attitude fosters hope and determination. This outlook helps you remain focused and continue striving, even when results aren't immediately apparent. And when you're dealing with chronic illness or a chronic health issue, results are typically not immediately apparent.
Speaker 1:Tenacity produces a mindset of self-belief. Confidence in your abilities strengthens your resolve to push through difficult times. Believing that your efforts will lead to success is a powerful motivator to keep going despite setbacks. The mindset and attitude also develops adaptability. A mindset open to change, flexibility and discovery is crucial for tenacity. It allows you to adjust your approaches and strategies when faced with roadblocks rather than just giving up. Finding solutions that are typically not embraced by the traditional medical system requires a mindset of discovery and flexibility requires a mindset of discovery and flexibility. That mindset also leads to resilience. A resilient mindset supports recovery from setback and failures. It helps you not only bounce back but come back stronger, turning obstacles into achievements. Within the mindset and attitude is an intrinsic motivation. A strong personal drive and passion for your goals can fuel perseverance. When you're intentionally motivated, as in the case of being healthy or being financially free, you're more likely to persist in pursuit of your passions and dreams, regardless of external pressures. Mindset and attitude also leads to a focus on long-term goals. Tenacity is all about the long game. A mindset oriented toward long-term objectives helps maintain tenacity. It encourages you to endure short-term struggles for greater future reward and accomplishments.
Speaker 1:Courage is another aspect of tenacity. It's an essential component of living life with tenacity. It plays a significant role in enabling you to persist in the face of fear and uncertainty. Courage matters in the following ways. One way is through facing fear. Courage is the ability to confront fear, pain, danger or uncertainty. It is not the absence of fear, but rather the determination to act despite the fear. This quality is crucial for tenacity because it empowers you to tackle challenges head on.
Speaker 1:Courage is also about taking risks. Tenacity often requires venturing into the unknown and taking calculated risks. Courage allows you to step out of your comfort zone, explore new ideas and opportunities that can lead to health and or success. Courage also allows you to overcome adversity. Courage supports tenacity by helping you push through difficulties and stand strong in the face of adversity. It gives you the strength to persist when others might retreat. Courage is also about standing for values and beliefs. It's about holding firm to your values and beliefs, even against opposition. This steadfastness bolsters tenacity by reinforcing your commitment to your goals and your principles. Embracing vulnerability is another factor of courage. Courage involves embracing vulnerability and acknowledging that a failure is a possibility, but not letting it deter progress. This openness to vulnerability fosters growth and learning, which are both essential aspects of tenacity. Courage is also about inspiring others. Acts of courage can inspire and motivate others to act with tenacity. Seeing someone demonstrate courage can encourage others to adapt a similar mindset of perseverance and determination.
Speaker 1:The opposite side of courage is fear. Fear plays a dual role in living life, with tenacity acting both as a potential obstacle and as a motivator. Fear intersects with tenacity in the following ways. One acknowledging fear Understanding that fear is a natural reaction to uncertainty is the first step in using it effectively. Tenacity involves acknowledging fear without allowing it to paralyze progress. Two motivating action Fear can serve as a powerful motivator, pushing you to take action rather than remain stagnant. The rush that comes from facing fears can propel you forward and encourage you to tackle challenges head on.
Speaker 1:Three building resistance. Facing and overcoming fears builds resilience. Each time a fear is conquered, it strengthens your resolve and confidence, both of which are needed to pursue future goals with tenacity. Four highlighting values. Fear can clarify what is truly important, since most people often fear losing things they value, such as their health, their money or their relationships. This awareness reinforces commitment to personal goals and values driving tenacious action. 5. Creative problem solving the presence of fear can stimulate creative thinking. Sometimes you have no choice but to seek innovative solutions to overcome obstacles and achieve goals despite the risks involved. 6. Strength, strengthening focus. When working to overcome fear, you often develop a sharper focus and determination key traits of tenacity that help in staying on course despite distractions. Ultimately, while fear is commonly viewed as a barrier, when approached with a tenacious mindset, it can become a catalyst for action, growth and unwavering perseverance.
Speaker 1:Living life with tenacity requires energy and motivation. Energy and motivation these points come to mind as to why energy and motivation are so important. It requires a sustained effort. Tenacity requires sustained effort over time, and this is only possible with adequate energy. High energy levels enable you to maintain focus and productivity even during challenging periods. Energy and motivation are necessary for pushing through challenges. Motivation acts as the driving force that propels you forward, helping you push through tough times. It keeps the passion and commitment alive, ensuring that temporary setbacks don't derail long-term goals. Energy and motivation are necessary for overcoming fatigue. Physical and mental fatigue can be major barriers to tenacity. Having sufficient energy is essential for overcoming these barriers, allowing you to remain active and engaged in your pursuits. Energy and motivation are necessary for maintaining a positive outlook, because they contribute to a positive mental state. When you feel energized and motivated, you're more likely to approach challenges optimistically, viewing them as opportunities rather than obstacles, and both energy and motivation produce consistency.
Speaker 1:Tenacity is not just about intense bursts of effort, but it's also about consistent, steady progress. Energy and motivation help maintain this consistency, ensuring that you continue making progress day after day. It's the progress that you make day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year, that makes a difference. This consistency, in many ways, keeps hope alive. And finally, energy and motivation can be an inspiration to others. An energized and motivated person can inspire those around them, creating a ripple effect. This can foster a supportive environment where collective tenacity thrives, encouraging everyone to persevere. I've witnessed this personally. Inspiration can be cyclical with encouragement, and what I mean by this is that as you inspire others, they can encourage you to keep going, to keep believing and to keep making progress. I created the Tenacity Framework as a model that I use and share with others to build their tenacity muscle when facing challenging situations. There are six pillars or phases to this framework.
Speaker 1:Phase one is realization. Realization is an awareness of where you are taking assessment of your current life situation. It's getting your head around what's really going on. It's a recognition that something is not quite right. Slowing down to take stock of the present circumstance is a part of the realization phase. It's knowing that something needs to be done, something needs to change, understanding that the actions that caused you to get to this place are no longer the actions that you want to take to continue on. It's about examining the choices that you made, your lifestyle habits, things you took for granted and the carefree attitude toward what's happening to you.
Speaker 1:Phase two is about discovering. Discovery involves acknowledgement of where you are and then making a decision to do something about it. It is discovering possibilities and opportunities that are available in order to correct or adjust the trajectory of your journey. It's about asking questions like what are my alternatives? What are some areas that I have yet to uncover? It's also about exploring whether possibilities exist, asking questions such as what are the things that are available to me that could help me in this situation?
Speaker 1:Phase three is called acceptance. Acceptance is acknowledging where you are right now. It's about establishing a baseline from which you can measure progress, for without knowing where you are, it will be hard to determine from whence you've come. Acceptance is about seeing yourself as you are Good, bad, angry or fearful. It's about loving yourself through the ugliness of the current circumstance, and it's really not about looking at the future only. It's about being real and deeply connecting with where you are, right here, right now. Acceptance is about identifying who you are in this moment and coming to terms with it.
Speaker 1:Phase four is called redirection. Once you realize where you are, you begin the learning journey for what alternatives are available and start the process for the journey of acceptance. This phase of redirection is about redirecting your energy from your state of where you are now to explore options for where you're going. It's about redirecting your focus from current circumstances and envisioning what the future holds. It's also about generating the energy to think outside the box, to allow yourself to explore paths that you have traded, to even become diverted into rabbit holes in order to seek answers. Exploring alternatives shines a new ray of hope. It allows you to move past current circumstances and learn new information that could prove beneficial.
Speaker 1:Phase five is called reframing. Reframing involves establishing a new perspective, one of possibilities. It's about asking the questions like what is possible and is it possible? Setting your perspective on what is possible means that there are no limits to solutions to your current situation, because, if you think about it, all things are possible. It's just a matter of believing that this is a time to get in touch with your true self and your deepest desires. You are in charge of your own actions, your own emotions, your own goals and your own vision. It's about empowerment and it's about knowing that you are capable, strong and worthy.
Speaker 1:The last phase is called growth. This phase is about acknowledging all the learnings that have occurred over the past five phases and incorporating those into a daily mindset practice. It's about observing where you started and the growth that has occurred. This growth is expressed through gratitude for the journey. These types of mental, physical, emotional, spiritual journeys are not planned most of the time and are not fun, but they are there for a reason, a purpose. Many times, it is to move you to a higher level of who you are meant to be in the world. It's about being thankful for the journey and the lessons that you've learned. This type of growth is always ongoing. You can never stop learning or stop moving toward the best version of yourself. It's about examining who you are when you started the journey and who you are at this point in the journey. To learn more about my framework, you can buy a copy of my new book, an Upward Perspective, where I explain the framework in more detail. It's written using my pen name, iris C Simpson, which was a prudent move given the juicy details contained within my book. You can buy your copy of An Upward Perspective at your favorite online bookseller.
Speaker 1:As is the usual case with these personal, thought-provoking episodes, I close with either relevant quotes or a clean joke. I leave you with this joke for your amusement. The joke is called Mother vs Mama. A black girl and a white girl were friends. The black girl slept over the white girl's house. It was 3 am and they were still up. The white girl's mother came downstairs and said Honey, don't you think it's time for you to go to bed? The white girl's mother came downstairs and said Honey, don't you think it's time for you to go to bed? The white girl responded Shut up, mother, I don't want to go to sleep. Her mother said Okay, honey, you can go to bed later. The black girl was very intrigued by what happened and decided to use that. When she got home the next night, the black girl's mother said to the black girl Girl, go to bed, it's late. The black girl shouted Shut up, Mama, I don't want to go to sleep. The black girl's mother took one look at her and raised her eyebrow. The black girl started to blink, looked around and asked when am I? A lady came over to the bed and answered you're in the intensive care unit.
Speaker 1:Sweetie, did you enjoy this episode? If so, go to my podcast website at k12educationuntangledbuzzsproutcom and leave me a text message about how you're enjoying my show. That's k12educationuntangledbuzzsproutcom. Go to the episode description and click on the send me a text message link. Episode description and click on the send me a text message link. Again, it's k12educationuntangledbuzzsproutcom and leave me a text message today. If you don't want to miss out on any of the content that I have provided or what I'll be providing next, then be sure to subscribe to my podcast on whatever platform you're listening to this. Thanks for listening today. I hope you'll come back for more K-12 educational discussions with even more exciting topics to untangle. Until next time, aim to learn something new every day.
