11 minute read
Attitude of Gratitude
BY: AARON ALEJANDRO T E X A S F FA F O U N DAT I O N E X E C U T I V E D I R E C T O R
38 he Bible (Luke 12:48) teaches to whom much is given, much is expected. My journey with agricultural science education started in 1980, and over the decades, I have witnessed many accomplishments for which we should be grateful. With the new format of of this magazine, the inaugural publication is a great chance to discuss the importance of gratitude. Start with Gratitude As we pause, reflect, and look beyond the immediate, we can put our gratitude in perspective. I encourage people to vocalize, say it out loud, and share with others what you are grateful for. It doesn’t take long to pinpoint life, freedom, family, friends, abundance, choices and faith. When asked how does it make you feel, most people respond good, positive, energized, or ready. Avoid an Entitlement Mentality I was recently visiting with Texas FFA Foundation board member Tom Ziglar about organizational culture and skill development in young people. I was referring to drive and the energy/capacity to look around for opportunities, achievement, and standards of excellence. He floored me with a question, “Aaron, what is the opposite of gratitude?” After a moment of reflection, he said “the opposite of gratitude is entitlement.” Whoa! Wow! Wait! The entitlement mentality, unlike the attitude of gratitude, almost immediately produces negative feelings and repercussions. The perspective of the entitled when they don’t have what someone else has is to complain, grumble, moan, whine, and protest. All lead to excuses, gossip, backbiting, and cultural chaos. A Grateful Testimony As some of you may know, my early teen years in Dallas were not trending in the right direction. My mom knew a change of environment was needed. I was shocked when she sent me to the Texas panhandle to a place called Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch. My dorm parent, Winston Chandler, put me in an agricultural science course and the FFA organization. I didn’t sign up and I didn’t think it was fair. My entitlement mentality made me very negative. Thankfully, the culture around me began to change this negativity. I quickly learned at Boys Ranch that I was not entitled to anything. I had to earn every privilege, opportunity, and accomplishment. I became part of a culture with high expectations. In the classroom, with our extracurricular activities, and in our assigned work responsibilities, Mr. Chandler and Boys Ranch expected our best and helped us learn how to do our best. The expectation was we would be successful, and over time it became our expectation too. The Boys Ranch FFA program had high expectations for its members. As a freshman, I was placed on the Jr. Chapter Conducting team, said the FFA Creed, was on the Jr. Farm “GRATITUDE IS THE HEALTHIEST OF ALL HUMAN EMOTIONS. THE MORE YOU EXPRESS GRATITUDE FOR WHAT YOU HAVE, THE MORE LIKELY YOU WILL HAVE EVEN MORE TO EXPRESS GRATITUDE FOR.” - ZIG ZIGLAR T
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Skills team, and participated in Dairy Judging. All of this in addition to raising a pig for the Fall and Spring stock show seasons. Our culture was to win. I knew if I didn’t study, prepare, and go the extra mile, we wouldn’t win. I would have let the team down, my chapter down, myself down. As we learned, grew, and achieved success, we began to appreciate the opportunities coming our way. Through this process we learned the importance of attitude, gratitude, and what can be accomplished with hard work.
In life, we will do the only thing we know how to do. Unless we learn something new, we can only default to what we know. Unfortunately, for many, all they know is how to be negative, but families, organizations, and cultures can create a positive environment of gratitude and an expectation of excellence.
I went on to serve as Texas FFA President, work for a member of the United States Congress, and serve as Executive Director of the Texas FFA Foundation. It has been a great honor over the last two decades to work with the Texas FFA, agriculture teachers, and all those who support our mission. My journey has taught me to be grateful. It has also taught me when we go as far as we can and get to where we wanted to go – we will be able to see farther down the road and know more remains to be accomplished.
I have been blessed with incredible opportunities. Someone generously supported Boys Ranch – it gave me a second chance. Someone supported Texas FFA programming to create leadership development opportunities – it empowered and fueled my career.
TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION AND THE TEXAS FFA BUILDING A BRIGHTER FUTURE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS TODAY MORE THAN EVER BEFORE IN OUR 92-YEAR HISTORY
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT FOR TEXAS FFA MEMBERS The Texas FFA Leadership Continuum Courtesy Corps Media Staff Texas FFA Chorus Foundation Ambassadors Ford Leadership Scholars Milestone training for State Officers LEAD Program for Texas FFA Members LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT FOR TEXAS AGRICULTURE EDUCATION TEACHERS Professional Development Conference The LEAD Experience Legislative LEAD Program Teacher Mentor Program SCHOLARSHIPS $2.3 Million in Award and Academic Scholarships Donor Development Scholarships for Agriculture Teachers Association of Texas Member’s Children SPONSORSHIPS Record-Setting Convention Support Support for Teachers Professional Development Conference Proficiency Awards Endowed Third-Party Validation of Our Efforts Expanded Professional Networks INFRASTRUCTURE AND OPERATIONAL SUPPORT Texas Agriculture Education / Ford FFA Leadership Center Established Local FFA Chapter Websites FINANCIAL STABILITY Foundation Budget and Endowment Has Grown More Than 300% in 20 Years Texas FFA Association is in a Positive and More Secure Financial Position Agriculture Teachers Association of Texas is in a Positive and More Secure Financial Position
Many times, teachers and students ask how they can help. The answer is simple; help us create a culture of gratitude. Share the success of Texas Team Ag Ed and the role the Texas FFA Foundation has played in crafting many of the strategies for success and rallying experts to improve operations, investments, marketing, and public relations. The bottom line is our students, teachers, and stakeholders are all benefiting.
Here’s how you can cultivate an attitude of gratitude. First, write it down. Make visible the things you are grateful for. Second, talk about it. Speak about the things you are thankful for. Third, share it. Make a point to post it on social media and share with family, professional peers, and staff. Lastly, express it. Gratitude in action can change a community, a state, a country, even the world.
Here’s to the Next 20 Years
In 1986 when campaigning to be State President, I talked about a vision for the Texas FFA that was based on values, growth, and innovation. I was passionate about it then and I’m no less passionate about it today. I am hopeful that along the way, I have been effective in sharing my gratitude, teaching others how to be grateful, and being effective so we can empower those who will lead the next 20-years and beyond.
I’ve always said, “If you want to know what the future is, grow it.” The time, talent, and treasure those before us invested in our organization was an investment in the future. What we add now and going forward is a commitment to sustainability. All of us, students, parents, teachers, business owners, and civic leaders that support Texas Team Ag Ed, have reason to be proud and filled with an “attitude of gratitude.”
Be grateful today. Be positive today. Invest your time, talent, and treasure in someone today. Help us grow an incredible Texas agricultural science education / FFA future beyond the horizon we see today. Invest in the future of Texas Agricultural Science Education with a grateful attitude.
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Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn from the very best in Texas Agricultural Science Education!
Teachers can further their skills to help their classroom come alive, while students will see their future in this powerhouse leadership series.
Featuring Dr. Temple Grandin and many more special guests!
APRIL 19 - 20, 2020 WEST TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
Happy State Bank Academic & Research Building 600 WTAMU DR Canyon, TX 79016
DR. TEMPLE GRANDIN
JOE CARTER SHARYLAND PIONEER HIGH SCHOOL TENURE: 30 YEARS
WHY DO YOU TEACH AG?
Teaching agriculture is very fulfilling to me because I have a passion for agriculture and the FFA. I think the program is one of, if not the most, beneficial high school programs available to students.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CLASSROOM MEMORY?
While I have many favorite memories, one always stands out. Many years ago, I was teaching Ag 101 in Navasota. On the day I began teaching the FFA Creed, a young man from Mexico, who spoke no English, was placed in my class. I assigned all students the task of memorizing the first paragraph. When I asked for volunteers the next day, my new student stood up and recited, not only the first paragraph, but the entire creed in a language he didn’t speak. When I asked him how long it took him to memorize, he told me it took about 12 hours. That experience taught me a lot, and reaffirmed that we can all succeed if we are willing to put in the time and effort.
WHY DO YOU BELIEVE THAT AG EDUCATION IS SO IMPORTANT?
I truly believe that agricultural education and the FFA offers more to high school students than any other program. The opportunities afforded to students range from public speaking to leadership to service to gaining knowledge in a multitude of fields. I personally have seen all different types of students find their niche through agriculture education.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOURSELF AS A FIRST-YEAR TEACHER?
“When you work hard, good things happen,” is something my teaching partner always says. It has become our motto as we motivate our students. It is exactly the advice I would go back and give myself.
Teach Ag Tips
CHAPTER OFFICER ELECTIONS SUGGESTED TIPS AND PROCEDURES BY: TERRY BAIZE, HAMILTON
1. Make sure you are electing your officers in accordance with your chapter’s constitution and by-laws. 2. Be transparent throughout the whole election process and keep everything. This includes ballots, tests, interview scores, etc. 3. Publicize the dates of the various election events, especially if your chapter uses a test or interview as a part of the election procedure. 4. If your chapter does use a test, make the study material available to all candidates as early as possible. 5. Officer candidates should know the expectations of being a chapter officer well ahead of time. Some schools may require students to sign a document agreeing to uphold the standards. 6. Make sure the candidates know exactly how the election process works regarding the percentage breakdown of the vote, interview, and test. 7. Be consistent and do not show favoritism. 8. Have a witness present when you tabulate ballots, test scores, and interview scores so there can be no question as to the outcome or its validity. 9. Be prepared for the election to not turn out the way you expect. The members who you may think are the most qualified and would make the best officers may not be selected for an officer position. 10. Do not be afraid to ask another FFA advisor or mentor for advice. Often, they will have valuable advice or insights which could be a great help.
