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Knowing when to push the reset button on your life

IRON MOUNTAIN — There is a man by the name of Taylor Mali, and he is both an educator and a poet. He’s been performing spoken word poems since the early 2000s, but one of his spoken words, titled “What Teachers Make” is my personal favorite, and one of his most popular.

It goes like this: “He says the problem with teachers is ‘what’s a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?’ He reminds the other dinner guests that it’s true what they say about teachers: Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach. I decide to bite my tongue instead of his and resist the temptation to remind the dinner guests that it’s also true what they say about lawyers, because we’re eating, after all, and this is polite conversation.

“‘I mean, you’re a teacher, Taylor. Be honest. What do you make?’ And I wish he hadn’t done that — asked me to be honest — because, you see, I have this policy about honesty and butt-? kicking, which is this: if you ask for it, then I have to let you have it. You want to know what I make?

“I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could. I can make a C+ feel like a Congressional Medal of Honor and an A- feel like a slap in the face. ‘How dare you waste my time with anything less than your very best.’ I make kids sit through 40 minutes of study hall in absolute silence. ‘No, you may not work in groups. No, you may not ask a question. Why won’t I let you go to the bathroom? Because you’re bored, and you don’t really have to go to the bathroom, do you?’ I make parents tremble in fear when I call home: ‘Hi. This is Mr. Mali. I hope I haven’t called at a bad time. I just wanted to talk to you about something your son said today. To the biggest bully in the grade, he said, ‘Leave the kid alone. I still cry sometimes, don’t you? It’s no big deal,’ and that was the noblest act of courage I have ever seen.’ I make parents see their children for who they are and what they can be. You want to know what I make? I make kids wonder, I make them question. I make them criticize. I make them apologize and mean it. I make them write. I make them read, read, read. I make them spell definitely beautiful, definitely beautiful, definitely beautiful over and over and over again until they will never misspell either one of those words again. I make them show all their work in math and hide it on their final drafts in English. I make them understand that if you’ve got brains, then you follow heart, and if someone ever tries to judge you by what you make, you give them nothing. Here, let me break it down for you, so you know what I say is true: Teachers make a difference, now what about you?”

When I first came across this spoken word on YouTube in college, I was completely inspired. “That’s it!” I thought, “That’s why I’m becoming a teacher!” That thought never changed within me. I never cared how much money I did or did not make. I didn’t care about the fact that I didn’t get paid for three months out of the year or for the breaks we had in between. It didn’t matter to me when I stayed late at school to help a kid out with their work, or when I came in early to make sure everything in my classroom was running smoothly for the epic lesson I had planned. None of that mattered, because I felt that I was making a difference. All of those things that Taylor Mali said teachers “make” was what I was making, and it felt unreal. It was like a natural high that set my world on fire, but when that high subsided, I crashed hard.

In those moments where I felt like what I was doing didn’t matter, the lack of adrenaline and “making a difference” rush was equally as debilitating as the high was exhilarating. On the days where I had lessons that were engaging and relevant, like converting pop culture songs into Shakespearean verse to better understand his language, our internet at the school would go out, or the printers would jam or I would be “observed” by my superiors who always had opinions about the one kid in your classroom that they noticed was goofing off and how I needed to do a “better job making specific assignments just for him that would help him engage better,” even though they didn’t know that student’s history, or understand the relationship I had with him, I didn’t feel like I was making a difference. On the days where I had to sit through hours of personal development and be shown how to be a better teacher by a speaker who had never set foot in the classroom and was then given activities that were “required” to be taught with every class, I didn’t feel like I was making a difference. On the days where my kids got it and their eyes lit up after understanding the importance of a comma or they reveled in the presentation they got to do that compared “The Odyssey” to “Star Wars,” but my vice principal called me down to her office to discuss testing scores and how I needed to be “teaching to the test” more regularly, and therefore she took the liberty of creating lesson plans for me to implement in my classroom that would bore my students to tears, I didn’t feel like I was making a difference.

Years ago, it was different. In my grandparent’s generation, you didn’t work because you wanted to or liked your job or had passion for it; you worked because it is what put food on the table and allowed you to have the house you wanted.

Today, young people, millennials, base work solely on passion and “happiness” — if it doesn’t bring you joy, throw it out — and so they quit jobs months in because they decide “they’re not making an impact,” and therefore they need to find something else. The two ideas are black and white, with no gray area in the middle. There is a balance in today’s society that has not yet been met.

I didn’t plan on leaving teaching when I did. I thought I would be a teacher for the rest of my life. In the end, teaching left me. There simply were no teaching opportunities, which was a hard truth to face, but the truth is, you don’t have to feel like you’re making an impact where you work. You don’t have to always “make a difference” — on those days teaching that I didn’t feel like I was making a difference, it stung, and I often thought about quitting, but I didn’t. I looked at the bigger picture. Doing what I was doing allowed me to live the life I wanted to outside of a career. You don’t have to be zealous about the career you’ve chosen or the work path that you’re on, but you do need to be zealous about the life you live outside of your work hours. Do I miss teaching? Not as much as I thought. I did immensely after I’d lost it, but joy is creatable. A job doesn’t define you, and a job doesn’t have to be where you make your difference — choose life, no matter what. And to all the teachers who have stuck it out through the good days and bad, you are the unsung heroes of life, and we thank you.

——

Freeman

Kingsford

Scenes and sounds, 11:45 a.m. Monday through Saturday.

Sunday: Uno, 1 p.m.; dunking donuts, 2 p.m.; church, 2:15 p.m.

Monday: Pretty nails, 10 a.m.; Brouhaha, 11 a.m.; library cart, 1:30 p.m.; bingo, 2 p.m.; ice cream social, 3 p.m.

Tuesday: Crochet, 10:30 a.m.; reminisce, 1:15 p.m.; Kentucky Derby, 2 p.m.; pj dice, 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday: Room visits, 10 a.m.; rosary, 11 a.m.; bingo, 2 p.m.; afternoon van ride, 4 p.m.

Thursday: Reading buddy, 11 a.m.; pokereno, 3 p.m.; laundry day, 4 p.m.; dinner theatre, 5 p.m.

Friday: What’s cooking, 11 a.m.; bunko, 1:15 p.m.; jigsaw brain teasers, 2 pm..; happy hour, 3 p.m.

Saturday: Daily News, 11 a.m.; spinning records, 1 p.m.; bingo, 2 p.m.

Iron County Medical Facility

Crystal Falls

Room visits, 1 p.m., Monday, Wednesday, Friday.

Exercise, 11 a.m., Monday, Wednesday, Friday.

Sunday: One-to-one church visitor, 8:30 to 11 a.m.; you be the judge, 10 a.m.; bingorama, 2 p.m.; Church of Christ, 3 p.m.

Monday: Memory books, 9 to 10:30 a.m.; bingo, 2 p.m.; Sunshine Club, 2:30 p.m.

Tuesday: CF library, 9:30 a.m.; Book Club, 10 a.m.; Mass, 10 a.m.; travel film, 1:30 p.m.; current events, 2 p.m.; musical movie, 6 p.m.

Wednesday: Casino, 9:30 a.m.; animal king, 10 a.m.; faces and places, 2 p.m.; night bingo, 6 p.m.

Thursday: Puzzler, 9:30 a.m.; bowling, 10 a.m.; wildlife film, 1:30 p.m.; Presbyterian church, 2 p.m.; happy hour, 2:30 p.m.

Friday: Crafts, 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.; Wii fun, 2 p.m.; web browsing, 2:30 p.m.; action movie, 6 p.m.

Saturday: ICMCF word search, 10 a.m.; hangman, 10 a.m.; exercise, 11 a.m.; Intergenerational social hour, 2 p.m.; card club, 6:30 p.m.

ManorCare

Kingsford

Wet your whistle, 9:30 a.m. daily.

Movie, 10:45 a.m. daily, and 3:15 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Gathering place, 11:40 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, and 11:40 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Popcorn day Fridays.

Protestant Church service, 3 p.m. Sunday.

Exercises, 10 a.m. daily.

Sunday: Just jokes, 10:15 a.m.; “Company’s Coming” room visits, 1:30 p.m.; Protestant church, 3 p.m.

Monday: Who, what, when, 10:15 a.m.; Marian Linder entertains, 2 p.m.; movie, 3:15 p.m.; pokeno, 5:45 p.m.

Tuesday: Who am I?, 10:15 a.m.; bingo, 2 p.m.; movie and a manicure, 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday: Remembering when, 10:15 a.m.; crafts, 2 p.m.; flip five, 5:45 p.m.

Thursday: Crosswords, 10:15 a.m.; “Deal or No Deal” bingo, 2 p.m.; Randy’s Magic Moments, 5:45 p.m.

Friday: ManorCare monthly, 10:15 a.m.; lucky 13 game, 2 p.m.

Saturday: Current events, 10:15 a.m.; bingo, 2 p.m.; movie, 3:15 p.m.

Maryhill Manor

Niagara, Wis.

Rosary, 8:30 a.m. Monday through Friday.

Parachute, 1:30 p.m. daily.

Monthly support group for grief and loss, 2 p.m. second Monday of the month.

Weekend pet visits.

Sunday: Rosary, 8:30 a.m.; Mass, 9 a.m.; music bingo, 10:15 a.m.; penny ante, 1:30 p.m.; Protestant service, 2:30 p.m.; Christian fellowship, 5:30 p.m.

Monday: Protestant service, 9 a.m.; travel club, 10:15 a.m.; nickel jokereno, 2 p.m.

Tuesday: Men’s breakfast, 7 a.m.; bingo, 10:15 a.m.; current events, 2 p.m.; “Deal or No Deal,” 6:15 p.m.

Wednesday: You be the judge, 10:15 a.m.; Chaplet of Divine Mercy, 3 p.m.; help your neighbor, 6:15 p.m.

Thursday: Mass, 9 a.m.; Scattergories, 10:15 a.m.; prayer shawl, 2 p.m.; Crystal Hogan entertains, 6:15 p.m.

Friday: Crafts, 10:15 a.m.; happy hour, 2 p.m.

Saturday: Crafts, 10:15 a.m.; pamper and polish, 2 p.m.; movie and popcorn, 5:45 p.m.

Victorian Pines

Iron Mountain

Exercise, 11 a.m. Monday through Friday.

Coffee clutch, 9:30 a.m. daily

Shopping days: 10 a.m. Tuesdays and Fridays, must sign up.

Sunday: Bible study, 2:30 p.m.; refreshments, 3 p.m.

Monday: Bingo, 2 p.m.; refreshments, 3 p.m.

Tuesday: Alphabet game, 2 p.m.; refreshments, 3 p.m.

Wednesday: Bingo, 2 p.m.; refreshments, 3 p.m.

Thursday: Crosswords, 2 p.m.; rosary, 3 p.m.

Friday: Bingo, 2 p.m.; refreshments, 3 p.m.

Saturday: Movie and popcorn, 2 p.m.

Florence Health Services

Florence, Wis.

Morning news, 6 a.m. daily.

Sunday: Bingo, 10 a.m.; flippo, 2 p.m.; reading, 6 p.m.

Monday: Bingo with Bette, 10 a.m.; bowling, 2 p.m.; room visits, 3:30 p.m.

Tuesday: Pastor Doug, 10 a.m.; 40’s music with Valri, 2:30 p.m.

Wednesday: Chair exercise, 10 a.m.; 21 cards, 2 p.m.; reminisce, 6 p.m.

Thursday: Pastor Jason, 10 a.m.; lunch out, noon; music with Crystal, 2 p.m.

Friday: Catholic church service, 10 a.m.; manicures, 2 p.m.; happy hour, 3 p.m.

Saturday: Bingo, 10 a.m.; movie and popcorn, 2 p.m.

Pinecrest Medical Care Facility

Powers

Life connections, 9:45 a.m. every Monday.

Busy bee, 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Rosary, 2:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Sunday: Grace church, 10:15 a.m.; Uno, 10:30 a.m.; Pictionary, 2 p.m.; ball toss, 3:30 p.m.

Monday: Beauty shop, 10:30 a.m.; rosary, 2:30 p.m.; ball toss, 3:30 p.m.; mind joggers, 6 p.m.

Tuesday: Baking group, 10:30 a.m.; bingo, 1:45 p.m.; social circle, 3:30 p.m.; one-on-one visits, 6 p.m.

Wednesday: Tea party, 10:30 a.m.; happy hour, 2 p.m.; one-on-one visits, 3:30 p.m.

Thursday: Exercise, 10:30 a.m.; bingo, 1:45 p.m.; cards, 3:30 p.m.; one-on-one visits, 6 p.m.

Friday: Mass, 10:30 a.m.; bunko, 2 p.m.; “Sorry” boardgame, 3:30 p.m.; one-on-one visits, 6 p.m.

Saturday: Hand massage, 10 a.m.; life stories, 10:30 a.m.; manicures, 2 p.m.; sensory, 3:30 p.m.

SENIOR CENTERS

Note: All centers ask for 24-hour advanced reservations for lunch. If you have meals delivered and will not be home, notify the center.

Alpha-Mastodon Center

906-875-3315

Meal noon every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

Amasa Center

906-822-7284

Open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Lunch at noon.

Bingo on Tuesdays.

Free meal drawing on Thursdays.

Breen Center

906-774-5110

Meals Monday through Friday.

Pasty sale every third Saturday of the month.

Cards and games available 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 2 p.m.

Hostess on duty Monday through Friday.

Treats and coffee, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Center retail store is open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday; volunteers and donations are welcome.

Birthdays acknowledged every day.

Evening meals are on the first and third Thursday of the month. Salad bar opens at 4 p.m., with dinner at 5 p.m. Donations are $4 for those 60 and older and $5 for 60 and younger.

Crystal Falls Center

Head cook: Lucy Korhonen

906-875-6709

Meals will be served on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 5 p.m., with the salad bar opening at 4:30 p.m. The dinner donation is $5 for those age 60 and older and $6 for those younger than 60. There is a $1 charge for takeout containers. All are invited.

Cribbage will be played at 1 p.m. Wednesdays and be concluded in time for dinner.

Monday: Soup, salad, pork roast, potatoes, carrots, gravy and homemade dessert.

Tuesday: Soup, salad, baked chicken, rice, vegetables, and homemade dessert.

Wednesday: Soup, salad, meatloaf, baked potato, vegetables, and homemade dessert.

The center is closed Thursday through Sunday.

A blood pressure reading can be taken by request at any time while the center is open.

Crystal Lake Center

906-774-5888

The center is closed on weekends.

Monday: Woodcarvers, 10 a.m.; mahjong in dining hall, noon; Les Artistes Art Club, noon; bridge club, 12:15 p.m.

Tuesday and Thursday: Pinochle, 12:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: Billiards, 9:30 a.m.

Wednesday: Spinning Spools Quilters Guild, 1 p.m., crafters, scrapbookers and others also welcome; knitting and crocheting class, 1 to 3 p.m.

Friday: Smear, 12:30 p.m.

Last Saturday of the month: Music jam starting at 1 p.m. Admission is free.

Dances take place from 7 to 10 p.m. on the second and fourth Fridays of the month. Admission is $6; coffee is free.

The Photo Club meets 1 to 3 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the month.

(Continued on page 7-A)Evening meals are usually on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month. Salad bar opens at 4 p.m., with the meal served at 4:30 p.m. A donation of $4 is accepted for seniors age 60 and older but not required.

Home-delivered meals are for seniors 60 and older can be delivered seven days a week. Christine McMahon has information for all meals and can be reached at 906-774-2256, ext. 235. For transportation, call Buzzin’ Around Town at 906-282-0492. Rides are $3 for age 60 and older, and $3.50 for younger than 60.

Transportation is available from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Felch Center

906-246-3559

Meals served at 11:30 a.m. Monday through Wednesday.

Bingo after lunch on the first and third Wednesday of each month.

A congregate jigsaw puzzle is done daily.

Aging and Disability Resource Center of Florence County

715-528-4890

Director: Tiffany White

Suggested donation for seniors older than 60 is $4 per meal. Residents younger than 60 must pay $7. Reservations and cancellations needed 48 hours in advance.

The ADRC can assist area seniors and those with disabilities with transportation Monday through Friday. Transportation reservation should be made with meal reservation.

The four senior dining locations are:

Fence Center/Town Hall

715-336-2980

Meal at noon Wednesdays only. Reservations are requested. Cribbage and cards are available.

Florence Community Center/Town Hall

715-528-4261

Meal is served at 11:30 a.m. Monday through Friday.

Jigsaw puzzles, cards, cribbage and board games are available. The coffee is always on.

Tipler Town Hall

715-674-2320

Serving lunch at noon on the second Thursday of the month.

Hillcrest Senior Dining Center, Aurora

715-589-4491

Meal is served at 11:30 a.m. Monday through Thursday. Jigsaw puzzles, cribbage, cards and board games are available. The coffee is always on.

Hermansville Center

Coordinator: Pam Haluska

906-498-7735

Meal is at noon Monday through Friday. Suggested donation is $3 for age 60 and older and $7 for those younger than 60.

Morning coffee is available daily.

Fifteen games of “fun bingo” are played each Tuesday and Friday, along with a 50-50 drawing.

Tuesday: Bingo, 12:45 p.m.

Wednesday: Cards played in the afternoon. Call ahead to see if a game will be going on.

Friday: Bingo, 12:45 p.m.

Monday through Friday: Walking in the gym, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. A treadmill also is available.

Friendly interaction with other crafters.

Iron River Center

906-265-6134

Meals served 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday; a $4 donation is encouraged from those 60 and older, and a $5 payment is required from those younger than 60.

Thursday meal, 3:30 p.m. soup, 4 p.m. salad bar, with dinner at 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Christine McMahon has information for all meals and can be reached at 906-774-2256, ext. 235. For transportation, call Buzzin’ Around Town at 906-282-0492. Rides are $3 for age 60 and older, and $3.50 for younger than 60.

Niagara Northwoods Senior Cafe and Center

Meal site manager: Corrie Maule, 715-251-1603

Senior center director: Jill Anderson, 715-251- 4154

Noon meals served Monday through Thursday.

Transportation to the meal site from the Niagara, Wis., area is offered.

They welcome any senior groups that would like to use the meal site as a meeting place — join them for lunch and then stay for a meeting or social time.

Wii games, cards, puzzles and board games are available to play.

Other activities are in the works — suggestions are always welcome.

Those who have not been at the meal site/senior center are invited to give it a try. Those who haven’t been here in awhile are encouraged to come back.

Norway Center

Director: Susie Slining

906-563-8716

Monday through Thursday: Meals served at noon, with salad bar. Soup also is available at 11 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Milk, juice, bread, fruit, tea and coffee served daily. Meal donation is $5. Reservation for the meal should be made in advance.

Two special-themed meals take place each month, with bingo, prizes and a 50-50 drawing.

Two evening meals offered at 5 p.m. on the first Monday and third Wednesday of the month, with bingo, prizes and a 50-50.

If Norway-Vulcan are schools are closed due to snow, so is the senior center. If the schools are on a two-hour delay, the center remains open.

Cards are played daily after the noon meal.

Craft and exercise classes: Mondays and Thursdays.

Ceramic and art classes: Wednesdays.

Puzzles always in the works.

A senior coloring class meets daily. All are welcome. Some materials will be provided.

Telephone reassurance is available for any senior who doesn’t get out much and would like a friendly daily phone check to see that all is well.

Tuesday — “Snow Days Dinner” at noon, with pork chops, mashed potatoes, gravy, peas, soup and salad bar, and dessert. Bingo with prizes and 50-50 drawing also available. Early sign up is preferred.

Sagola Center

906-542-3273

Meals: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 11:45 a.m.

Cards: Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday.

Commodities every other month and quarterly commodities are every three months.

A puzzle table is available to enjoy.

Volunteers are always welcome.

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