As I was trying to figure out what to write this year I started thinking what is the most important thing to me in the moment and I started thinking about my students. This year I've spent a lot of time thinking about how I can get them to be more empathetic and care about the world around them. On their best days they can be so sweet and loving, helping me out in class, giving me little pieces of art, and asking me how I'm doing. But I also know they face so much social pressure from their peers and their cultural heroes to be cruel and mean because it's so much cooler. So obviously I'm doing this to help raise money to fight a monstrous disease but this year I'm hoping I can inspire and show my students that it's cool* to care about others and your world. That when we choose to support each other and make sacrifices for each other we gain something and the whole world becomes a better place for all. *To be honest my kids don't think I'm cool at all but they like to humor me and pretend I am. Like I said sweet and loving. Love them.