I’m a seminary teacher. For my uninitiated friends and readers, that means that I get up at 5:00 a.m. every day that high school is in session to teach a religion class to high school students. Class starts at 6:00 a.m.
It’s tough. It’s tough for everyone. Kids need their sleep and if they indulge in staying up late for some reason, it becomes a huge sacrifice. But most of the eligible students make that sacrifice and I know they are tremendously blessed for it. I’m a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the church requires attendance in Seminary for members who plan to attend one of the 4 church owned Universities and college. (BYU, BYU Hawaii, BYU Idaho, and LDS Business College). But they set the standard for attendance at a minimum of 80%. It makes sense that sometimes there will be conflicts with school events, illness, testing times etc, when a student might need to miss seminary.
It’s a sacrifice for me too. I like to sleep, and I have lots of other good things in my life (Home, family, writing, hobbies) that take my time and attention. Sometimes I can get my class preparation down to an hour and sometimes it takes longer. I love teaching, I love studying the scriptures and I love my students, but I still look forward to the summer.
But I hate this time of year. Some of the students have gotten behind and let their attendance drop below 80%. This means that I have to develop makeup work that is equal in time and even greater in effort to replace those days missed. After I prepare tomorrow’s lesson, I spend about half again as long preparing makeup work or grading the work I’ve received.
Some have procrastinated enough that I worry every day that they won’t get it done and won’t get credit for the year. I nag. I remind. (Maybe that’s restating ‘nag’.) I notify parents consistently so they know their child’s status. I fret myself into needing a course of Prilosec every year at this time.
The worst part is that I know it adds stress to those students who have finals coming up and need to do a slough of makeup work. They STILL need their sleep. Procrastination always doubles stress!
Now I know that you would advise me (like my husband regularly does,) ‘Just don’t worry. It’s their decision.’ He’s/you’re right of course.
I wish I could just stop worrying. And as I try to do that, I advise you in whatever aspect of your life that procrastination is causing additional unnecessary stress, just take care of it. Stop worrying or feeling guilty and take care of the problem. If you need to take something out of your life so that you have only your highest priorities left, do it. If you need to repent of a hidden sin, just do it. Claim the peace offered through Jesus Christ by focusing your attention on being a true disciple and let Him help you see the strait course you must take. (The word ‘strait’ is not misspelled. If you don’t know what it means, look it up.) I hope you can. . .for the sake of those who care about you as well as for your own benefit. Happy Trails!
It’s tough. It’s tough for everyone. Kids need their sleep and if they indulge in staying up late for some reason, it becomes a huge sacrifice. But most of the eligible students make that sacrifice and I know they are tremendously blessed for it. I’m a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the church requires attendance in Seminary for members who plan to attend one of the 4 church owned Universities and college. (BYU, BYU Hawaii, BYU Idaho, and LDS Business College). But they set the standard for attendance at a minimum of 80%. It makes sense that sometimes there will be conflicts with school events, illness, testing times etc, when a student might need to miss seminary.
It’s a sacrifice for me too. I like to sleep, and I have lots of other good things in my life (Home, family, writing, hobbies) that take my time and attention. Sometimes I can get my class preparation down to an hour and sometimes it takes longer. I love teaching, I love studying the scriptures and I love my students, but I still look forward to the summer.
But I hate this time of year. Some of the students have gotten behind and let their attendance drop below 80%. This means that I have to develop makeup work that is equal in time and even greater in effort to replace those days missed. After I prepare tomorrow’s lesson, I spend about half again as long preparing makeup work or grading the work I’ve received.
Some have procrastinated enough that I worry every day that they won’t get it done and won’t get credit for the year. I nag. I remind. (Maybe that’s restating ‘nag’.) I notify parents consistently so they know their child’s status. I fret myself into needing a course of Prilosec every year at this time.
The worst part is that I know it adds stress to those students who have finals coming up and need to do a slough of makeup work. They STILL need their sleep. Procrastination always doubles stress!
Now I know that you would advise me (like my husband regularly does,) ‘Just don’t worry. It’s their decision.’ He’s/you’re right of course.
I wish I could just stop worrying. And as I try to do that, I advise you in whatever aspect of your life that procrastination is causing additional unnecessary stress, just take care of it. Stop worrying or feeling guilty and take care of the problem. If you need to take something out of your life so that you have only your highest priorities left, do it. If you need to repent of a hidden sin, just do it. Claim the peace offered through Jesus Christ by focusing your attention on being a true disciple and let Him help you see the strait course you must take. (The word ‘strait’ is not misspelled. If you don’t know what it means, look it up.) I hope you can. . .for the sake of those who care about you as well as for your own benefit. Happy Trails!
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