Progress and Perfection

"Don't let perfection get in the way of progress."

I have never heard the expression Alan mentioned today.  But this speaks to me so much as a first year teacher.  Though everything I tried this year was technically new to me, since I've never done it before, I have a hard time trying new things when I am less than sure of what the outcome will be.  I am a perfectionist by nature, and hate doing something that doesn't turn out exactly how I wanted it to.

For example, I see excerpts from other schools' newspapers and yearbooks and I think to myself, "I would never be able to teach my kids how to do something like that."  And in my head, I have already discounted that idea.

But this is definitely a disservice to my students, my program, and myself.  I refer back to another expression, "Even the expert in something was once a beginner," (or something like that) and I think how true that really is.  Most people don't start out with something flawless and perfect.  You have to work at it.

So I vow to myself that I will never sell my staff, program, or myself short by saying we will never be able to do something.  I just have to keep working at it, and not be afraid to produce something that is less than perfect in the meantime.  I cannot let my need for perfection get in the way of progress.  Our program will never grow and become a model for other schools if I am too afraid to try.

Thank you, Alan!


Lauren Ramcharan Gutierrez
Corbett Jr. High School
San Antonio, Texas