Professional Learning Update

Think Strong. Be Strong. Finish Strong.

Dr. Demica Sanders, CLAS Director of Professional Learning

On most Friday nights, you will catch me cheering the Clay Chalkville Cougars to a win against various opponents. My daughter, Kameron, is a band student and hearing them play is the highlight of my night. I get excited as I watch the bands battle, playing some of my favorite tunes- especially the drum line. My daughter is a member of the drum line and I do not care what anyone says, the drumline is the heart and beat of the band!

At the beginning of the 4th quarter, you will often see football players, band members and fans alike holding up their four fingers. Everyone who sees this knows that we are in the final quarter of the game. For the winning team, the 4th quarter is a time for intense playing to hold onto the win. For the loosing team, the 4th quarter is a time for intense play to take the lead. Either way it goes, it is a time for intense play ensuring that everyone finishes strong.

As you enter the 4th quarter, I want to provide you with some words of wisdom from Tasha McDonald to help you finish strong!

Welcome to the final quarter of the year 2023! In just a few months, we will be entering a new year, filled with new challenges and opportunities. We may have had our ups and downs this year, but we have made it this far, which is something to be proud of. Even with everything that is happening, it’s important to remember that we still have time left in the year to make progress towards our goals.

• Reflection: As we enter the last quarter of the year, this is a great time to reflect on the goals we set for ourselves earlier in the year. What have we accomplished so far? What can we do to continue making progress towards our goals? Take some time to review the actions you have taken so far and identify what worked and what didn’t. This will help you focus on what needs to be improved in the last few months of the year.

• Goal setting: Now is also a good time to set new goals for the remaining months until the year ends. Take the learnings from your reflection and apply them to setting new goals. Make sure they are realistic, specific, and measurable. Setting new goals will give you something to work towards and keep you motivated for the rest of the year.

• Prioritize: As we all know, the holidays can be a particularly busy time. It›s essential to prioritize your time and activities to ensure that you continue making progress towards your goals. This could mean setting specific times for tasks or delegating responsibilities to others. By prioritizing your time, you will be able to avoid feeling overwhelmed, and it will allow you to focus on the things that matter most to you.

• Celebrate: Take a moment to acknowledge and celebrate the progress you›ve made so far, no matter how small. Celebrating your achievements can be a great motivator to keep pushing forward. Celebrating helps you realize that you are doing well, and more importantly, it gives you the encouragement to continue moving forward. Treat yourself and continue to work through the last few months of the year!

• Stay positive: Finally, as we head towards the end of the year, it›s essential to maintain a positive and optimistic attitude. The last few months of the year can be stressful, and it’s easy to get burnt out. But by staying positive and optimistic, you will be able to keep going strong. Believe in yourself and trust that you can accomplish what you set out to do.

As we welcome the final quarter of the year 2023, let us approach this time with a refreshed mindset and renewed energy. With less than two months left in the year, we still have time to make progress towards our goals. Take the time to reflect, set new goals, prioritize tasks, celebrate achievements, and maintain a positive attitude. With this in mind, we can continue to push forward and end the year strong.

I’m cheering for you. Keep going strong! As always, if CLAS can ever do anything for you, please do not hesitate to contact us and remember to FINISH STRONG!

Tasha McDonald is the owner of Maximized Growth, LLC. She provides training and development that specializes in leadership development, strategic communications, and team unity.