Dodgeball.
What memories, if any, come flooding back to you when you hear that word? Where would you have been found on the dodgeball court in grade school – on the front lines? Hiding in the back? Or somewhere in the middle?
Thursday was last day of our third quarter. Usually, students are scrambling to turn in a missing assignment, ask for extra credit options, and are wired for the weekend, but Thursday was different, much different.
Instead, we celebrated the amazing state testing scores our students delivered last spring. The following activities are taking place: a dodgeball tournament, going out to lunch, watching Frozen [or NCAA bball games], and a staff VS student basketball game to end the day. Oh – & don’t forget the Math department, [4 teachers] getting a pie in the face for some fundraising incentives that were met this fall.
Now, back to dodgeball.
I have a theory involving the game of dodgeball. I think the type of person you are can fall directly into one of the dodgeball players below:
1. The Dare Devil. This is the student on the front line, facing their enemy boldly, without any fear. They’re a thrill seeker, meeting the unknown with a smile on their face. They’re up on their toes, ready to dip and dive to catch the next ball thrown at them, and all the while picking out their next victim, [either a weakling in the back or the other dare devil eyeing them up on the other team]. The Dare Devil has no fear of getting out, because they truly feel they never will. They feel invincible, strong, and are ready for anything.
2. The Wall Hugger. This student literally hugs the back wall, stays out of battle, & is uninterested in the game. They may pick up a ball rolling at their feet and carry it around to fool their teammates into thinking they’re trying to do something worthy to help. They are passive, shy, and introverted. They may fake getting out, only to stand on the sideline and watch someone else win the game. Sometimes the Wall Hugger finds themselves as the last one standing & is forced to take on some of their enemies alone; sometimes they rise to this challenge & other times they fall.
3. The Silent Worker. This student is quiet, but works hard. They don’t need to be publicly praised by catching a ball thrown by an opponent and screaming to their teammates: “SEND SOMEBODY IN!” They gather extra dodgeballs for their teammates and do whatever they can to ensure a victory. They are hardworking, dedicated, & compassionate. They aren’t valued as much as the Dare Devil, but it doesn’t matter to them; The Silent Worker does their job without hesitation and doesn’t ask for anything in return.
4. The Whiner. Yes, we all know them. They’re the student that are constantly looking for something to complain about: “The other team has more people than us!” “John got hit and he’s not going out!” “Lindsay didn’t really catch that throw, it hit the floor first!” “You like the other team better than us!” And so on… It doesn’t matter if their team wins or looses, The Whiner is always complaining. They are negative, a bit controlling, & somewhat selfish. They don’t necessarily want to work hard, but would rather point out the mistakes of others to feel accomplished.
5. The Cheerleader. The Cheerleader doesn’t necessarily have a specific talent, in terms of dodgeball skills. They are happy, positive, & encouraging. Their job is to push their teammates, praise those that need it, and catch a ball once and while. The Cheerleader’s main goal is to keep everybody happy and positive, even at their own expense. They want nothing more than to come out with a victory, just to they can say job well done to their teammates. They look at the glass half – full, no matter the situation.
Who are you?
xo – Happy Friday!