I want to talk about something kind of scary today. No, I am not referring to ghosts or goblins, though those things are rather terrifying. I want to speak about risk taking. Taking a risk is scary y'all! No matter what area of your life the risk my fall in, there is always a chance of failure. Depending on how great the risk, the consequences of failure could be catastrophic. So, often times people simply choose not to take risks, but to live in their lane safely traveling Sunday drive speed with hands at ten and two. I am not trying to say living safely is a bad thing. It isn't! However, I have found that if you want to level up, if you want to make a positive change in the world, it comes with a heaping pile of risks. So why even take risk anyway if it won't work out? What kind of risk taking is worth it for teachers? How can taking risks help me level up my life? I think that the game Galaga might help to answer some of these questions. rIf you have never played Galaga, first of all who are you?!, and secondly let me give you a quick run down of the game. Galaga is an arcade game that first came out in the early 1980's. You play a spaceship whose has been tasked with shooting down a barrage of enemy aliens (they look like bugs) that arrive in different formations on the screen. Some of these bug-aliens return fire, some kamikaze dive you, while others simply float down the screen and are a rather easy target. As soon as the fighter has cleared the screen of all enemies, you will progress to another stage. These stages get progressively more difficult, and never end until the game basically loses all of its memory and shuts off. (This happens after like 250 levels and I can't make it past like level 30) Every few stages, a challenge stage appears, which is basically a free level to shoot aliens and gain extra points. You begin the game with 3 lives that can be lost if they are shot by enemy fire or collide with an enemy. Extra lives can be gained if a certain amount of points are earned by the player. In my opinion it is quite possibly the best arcade game ever created!
You are probably thinking "This game sounds amazing, but what in the world does Galaga have to do with risk taking?" There is aspect in Galaga that involves taking a rather big risk with the life of one of your fighter jets, but if successful it can prove to be an immense help in the traversing the levels of the game. One of the specific types of aliens in the game will drop down a vortex as it approaches the fighter. This can be seen in the picture above. This vortex will suck up the fighter jet and the alien will then abduct it and carry it around the screen. Though this may seem like you have lost your jet, you haven't. With your next life, you can shoot the alien that has stolen your jet and the newly saved spaceship will come join your current life creating a two for one special! This allows more ammo to shoot at one time making it easier for you progress levels. However, if you accidently shoot your ship instead of the alien hauling it around, you will lose the ship and the life. See great risk, but possible great reward! In teaching there are many opportunities to take risks. Some are bigger risks than others and some have greater consequences. However, just because there may be fallout or you might fail doesn't mean you shouldn't take the risk. What I have learned from Galaga, is that though it may seem scary to let go of control or put yourself out there into a vortex of the unknown, is that if it does work out the reward is worth it. For me my first risk was starting this blog. What if no one reads it? What if no one gets my video game references? BUT what if it changes someone's perspective? What if it levels up my life and my teaching? You see, the reward here is much greater than the risk. I feel like by putting myself out there I am gaining hundreds of extra fighters, and it is much easier to take down the aliens. I encourage everyone, not just teachers, take some risks! They can start out small or they can be big, but you have to put yourself into path of a kamikaze alien sometimes. You might fail or you might not, but I promise you will level up regardless! Cheat Codes: BREBR- Big Risks Equal Big Rewards TABIPINTS-Try A Blog I Promise It's Not Too Scary IYFTTA-If You Fail Try Try Again BAFJ- Be A Fighter Jet Take a Risk! Taylor
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AuthorGreetings Readers! My name is Taylor Arehart and I am a 6th year Educator in Excelsior Springs, MO. I have taught 3rd, 4th and gifted and talented, but now I am beginning a new adventure as an Instructional Coach. I have a huge passion for transforming education and giving students the 21st century skills they need to rock the world. I am writing about my journey of leveling up! Leveling up means to constantly look for ways to improve in teaching, learning and living. This means in the classroom with my students as well as in other areas of my life. I hope you enjoy reading about my journey (and my students' journeys) to reach our highest levels and rattle the stars! Archives
October 2017
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