This is at least my third try at blogging. I agree with the numerous benefits I have heard that blogging can bring to an educator; expanding your PLN, self-reflection, and so on. The problem is that in order to truly reflect, to truly connect with others you must expose yourself to others and open yourself up to criticism. Of course, we all expose ourselves to the same things by simply living. But, there is a difference between going about your daily lives and exposing yourself to the world and purposefully putting yourself out there.
For the longest time, I have thought that “perfection” has been the reason I deleted my blogs. That I didn’t want it up if it didn’t meet the expectations I had for what it should be. But, last night my son told me that there was going to be a new student in his second-grade class. I instantly was transported into the mind of that child and imagined what it must be like for him to join a new school with over half the year over. How hard it would be, how he would have to make the choice to open himself up to the chance of being hurt when trying to make new friends. Because, if he didn’t make himself vulnerable, if he didn’t purposefully choose this state he would not make new friends or speak his thoughts and opinions in an already crowded and established classroom.
The internet is much like a crowded classroom with the cool kids who everyone listens to, the kids who are comfortable enough to say what they want, and the kids sitting on the edge wanting to join in, but afraid to make themselves vulnerable. I think it is time that I joined the classroom and stopped thinking of excuses of why I can’t.
blog of joshua michaelis 