Part 2: (10:00-24:10)

As an interventionist in a new position, I have a fresh perspective on the functioning of a school building and the students within it.  The key regarding connecting with colleagues rang true because I now work as part of a team of teachers, no longer carrying the weight of a classroom alone.  We are able to share thoughts throughout the day, both positive and frustrational.  This helps alleviate our compassion fatigue.  
Also because I stepped away from the classroom, I feel refreshed by working with more students throughout the day, but in shorter increments.  I feel like I can make more of a difference, while also refocusing on my own self-care (centering and balance).  I can focus on my home-life - my family, my husband and my young children.  School used to be my whole life and now I am aware that it is only part of my life, and that's okay!

I feel most connected when engaging with colleagues and exploring student success/resilience stories. Both are already part of my current practice and have had a tremendous impact on my overall professional growth. My co-teachers and I frequently have discussions about our students, especially those who have the most baggage when they come to school. We are a great support to each other and it has been a strong asset to all of us to take turns addressing each of these student’s needs. Every now and then, I get emails from former students in which they share their growth and triumphs. These moments have gotten me through many challenging times as a teacher.

One method that I think would be very helpful in dealing with compassion fatigue is listen to others success stories.  It is very helpful to know that some people do rise above a bad situation.  It helps as a teacher to know that others have been successful.  It can aid in finding the right words to  help students who are struggling. 

A second method that I feel is not only important but necessary, is to talk to colleagues.  As teachers, we all want to see kids be successful.  We all understand that emotional rollercoaster it can be to deal with students who struggle.  To have someone in the same line of work, that understands that, to talk to can be a saving grace.  It also can be a great "meeting of the minds" to try to find a solution to a problem, or a way to handle a difficult situation. 

I connected most with the following key practices:

1. Self- Care balance- Self care is something I struggle with in my personal life and as an educator. Self-Care helps our mind, body, and spirit become more resilient. This layered form of self care is needed more than ever. Personally; the uncertainity of teaching during the pandemic and the worry I had for my students significantly impacted my self-care balance. I'm slowly rebuilding and restoring balance. 

2. Connecting with Colleagues- reaching out to colleagues is one of the best ways to become more resilient in education and less fatigued. Trusted colleagues are people who truly encourage and challenge you to be at your best. They celebrate your successes and provide constructive feedback to help you be authentic in your teaching, 

1. Connect with Colleagues. Only educators know what other educators really go through. As said in the video, having these conversations with colleagues help things feel less lonely. When we connect with our colleagues and share our successes and support each other through our difficulties and failures, it helps make these low points feel less polarizing. 

2. Self Care -- Centering and Balance Education is a profession where we often are asked to extend ourselves to our students and district families to the point where we feel our cup is running on empty. Taking time for self care and restoration so we feel our cup is filled up is necessary to ensure we can keep giving without feeling burnt out. We cannot provide care and attention to our students if we cannot give care and attention to ourselves.

1. Immerse yourself in stories of recovery - Purposely listen to stories of families that are able to overcome obstacles and are successful.  Listen to stories of teachers who found themselves lost in the profession and found their way through difficult times.

2. Connect with colleagues - Find someone that you can be open and honest with to connect with them on an authentic level. This reduces the isolation and frustration when teachers are exahusted.

The first practice that resonates with me is to celebrate recovery.  It is important to understand pain and problems, but to also realize the positives in our lives and what we have achieved and overcome (in terms of growing compassionately).  I think with everything going on in our lives we look at the negatives and dwell on those negatives.  It is important to concentrate on the positives and hear stories of recovery and positive outcomes.  This can help kids everyone can grow, learn and change.

The second component is to reach out to others.  I believe it is important to lean on others during hard times and begin to be able to share with someone when you feel tire, or like a zombie.

One of the practices that resonated with me is the idea of understanding our role and limitations. All too often, I believe that we take on more than we can handle. Sometimes we need to learn how to understand where we are, what can need to do and what we have to do both in our professional and personal life. It is okay to stay that you cannot do it all. While our roles encompass many aspects, it does not include every single role at our school/company.

Self-care – centering and balance is another practice that resonated with me. This is okay to say no to things if it is not going to benefit you. We need to take care of ourselves so that we can help others. This is something that is oaky and should be practiced more that it, in my opinion. Self-care focused on emotional, intellectual, physical, and spiritual wellbeing. When we are taking care of us, we will start to notice it in all of these areas.

The two strategies that struck a chord with me was the idea of self care and the idea of connecting to colleagues. Finding a colleague you can rely on and sort of be vulnerable with can be really difficult sometimes depending on school culture, but there are also opportunities for networking that may help people feel less isolated when it comes to addressing the idea of compassion fatigue. The idea of self care becomes equally critical because of the idea that you cannot pour from an empty cup. Being a compassionate and patient educator requires a lot of emotional labor and it's important to remember that you are a human being too who has needs that need to be met as well. And that can look like a number of different things. This is also a good coping skill for students, taking moments to care for yourself is something that we should be teaching our students how to do as well. 

Immersing in stories of resilience will help me to remember that the kids have the capacity to make it through their situations. Many of the stories are shocking. I never imagined how cruel people could be to someone, especially their own children. Focusing on people that have built their dream life after surviving trauma will absolutely help. Reaching out to others in my school is difficult due to toxic positivity. Hearing how these women speak will help my friends and I to frame what we need to say in a more productive manner.