Follow Your Dreams

Happy Monday Everyone!

This morning, I wanted to validate your dreams!!  A local artist and Harwood Graduate, Grace Potter was nominated recently for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Album last night.  The Grammy's are a big dean and though Potter did not win, she was there -  in the category with other nationally recognized artists - for the success of her craft.   

Best Rock Album

"A Hero's Death," Fontaines D.C.
"Kiwanuka," Michael Kiwanuka
"Daylight," Grace Potter
"Sound & Fury," Sturgill Simpson
"The New Abnormal," The Strokes *WINNER

I read a short story by John Kerrigan, a former teacher and current coach at Harwood who taught Potter when she was a student there.  He reflected years later how he had often chastised her for frequently being late to his class.  She would give him a reason for being late... she had been in the music room working on her songs because she was going to be a rockstar!   

I don't know Grace Potter personally...she was from the Valley and probably a student at Harwood before I started working in this district, but Mr. Kerrigan's story tells me that at a fairly young age - 17ish years old - Potter knew what she wanted and was willing to work for it and go after it.  

I think it's fair to say that you should always have confidence in your dreams!  You should go after what you desire.  The one caveat is that if you have a dream, you have to set goals and figure out how you are going to get there.  Then you have to follow through with your plan and put in the work!  

You can't tell me you are going to be in the WNBA someday, and not be in the gym each day working on your game.  

You can't tell me you are going to be a movie star and not be auditioning for roles and working with acting and voice coaches or at least practicing in the mirror.  

You can't tell me you are going to be a neuro-surgeon when you aren't handing in your 7th-grade science homework.  

If being famous, important, wealthy, connected, or just simply happy and comfortable are your goals, then do the work to get there!  

  • Build a good foundation while you are here in middle school, by learning to be a good student with good habits.  Turn in your work, study for assessments, engage your brain in creative ways, be curious about the world and the people in it, and READ!!  
  • Prepare yourself now for high school and learning beyond high school in whatever form that takes.  
  • Be a person of your word.  Mean what you say, and say what you mean.  
  • Be kind and inclusive of others and their dreams and goals.  

If you follow these simple steps, you to can be like Grace Potter and have your name in the lights!    

Good luck with your dream...you are on your way...and I am cheering you on 100%!  


Be well,

Mrs. Hempey   



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