One of the best parts about teaching English II is that I get to give lectures that not only teach the standards, but are also meant to uplift and inspire. I get a lot of ideas from the great lecturers of our time like Randy Pausch, Deepak Chopra, and other professors I have had along the way, and I just wanted to share my latest lecture here with you.

But first, some background: I designed the general class structure to include one such lecture each day. The topics aim at the heart. When I first started out, I’d spend hours rehearsing the content and presentation, but now, I’m finding that the best points I make might not have been planned, but happen when I am in the moment, while I consciously consider the right words to say.

When I am done giving the lecture, the students are required to write a 1/2 page response. I provide writing prompts, if needed. They are free to write at will, but nobody is allowed to just sit there. Many of them end up writing more than the required minimum.

If they have trouble concentrating (which some do…they’re chatty!), I’ll sit down next to them, and make sure they finish the assignment. It has to do with my high expectations and the value I have on seeing them succeed.

The content level is challenging. I want them to read essays that are more advanced to show them they can be successful deep-thinkers who know what it means to think and read critically.

Yesterday’s lecture had to do with word choice, and living out life so that we are consciously in the moment – choosing our words, actions, and thoughts as we travel in the maze of opportunity that we call life. Every moment, we are given an incredible choice to choose what we do, what we say, what we think. I demonstrated this process to several small groups, and marveled at their thoughtful perspectives.

Anyone can move unconsciously across a room. Most people just walk from point A to point B without putting much thought into it. I pointed out how the students were sitting, where they had their hands on the desk, how they had a smile on their face. Most of those actions were done without thinking. I pointed out that, as I was speaking to them, each word they heard from my mouth had a purpose, just like their words can have a more focused purpose, too.

I explained there were many different options I could have just chosen, in that point in time: I could have chosen to sit at my desk, not help them, and hope they’d figure it out on their own; I could have helped other people on the other side of the room. The point is that there were many paths within this space that I could have chosen, but I consciously chose to talk to them, at the time, and help with their essay. At any given moment, they have a choice with their actions, thoughts, and words. The question they must ask themselves is: “What are you going to do with it?”

Each moment is precious, after all.