Just Do Something

For anyone not paying attention, I've spent the last 2 years as president of the PTA at my kid's public school in Los Angeles.  Before that, I held no title for a year (although ran a few committees)...before that, I was VP and before that, I was persona non grata.  My daughter "graduates" 5th grade from this school tomorrow, hailed by her teacher as the "best writer" he has ever taught.  When I took on the presidency (was begged to take on the presidency), I didn't think it would be all that different from all the work I was already doing for the school.  I was in charge of multiple committees, had practically single handedly managed to raise the money we needed on more than one occasion and without a lot of gratitude.  Now, with a supportive and wonderful group of folks on the board, all of whom wanted me to be there, I honestly thought it would just be a title, one that wouldn't change very much about my relationship with the school.  Boy, was I off.

PTA president is the kind of thing I was born to do. I function best as a benevolent dictator.  It's what made me a fantastic RA in the dorms at UCLA, it's what made me a great teacher, it's what makes me a good mom.  A lifetime of service was already par, thanks to all my work at the Y.  Volunteerism is second nature to me, there has never been a time in my adult life where I haven't been a volunteer for SOMETHING, even when I worked full time.  Being responsible for the PTA at this school that was educating both of my children for free, the school that I wanted them to attend, and knowing full well from my exposure to parochial schools, private schools, magnet schools, public schools in bad neighborhoods, and public schools in good neighborhoods, that the difference between a good school and a great school is the level of parental involvement at that school, meant that it was now on me.  All of a sudden, being president meant that it wasn't just on me to HELP.  It was on me to LEAD.  Because of my personal need to do a good job, this meant it wasn't enough for me to keep the school going the way it had been going (which was fine), I needed to raise the bar.  Raise the expectation of what parents should do, what they owe to the school, and to do it all diplomatically and in such a way that it would continue on without me there.  I've railed against leaders of programs whose method of leading is to just do everything themselves, leaving no structure for their eventual absence.  I would not do the same thing, but DAMN that takes effort.

My tenure is over.  I've served 2 terms, which is the limit and I'm happy to be moving on and passing on the reigns to a group of exceptionally talented, dedicated, and capable folks.  I'm thrilled to be able to do it while I will still be at the school, helping for the next 2 years as their adviser, to support them in any way I can.  I'm proud of my accomplishments, and can hold my head up high, knowing that what I've done has been for good.

I was stopped randomly on the yard after school today by 2 parents who occasionally help out with the PTA.  They both wanted to thank me for the work I've put in to the school, and also apologize for not being able to "do more".  I thanked them profusely for the appreciation and told them what I very firmly believe, and that is that every little bit helps.  Any time one is given the opportunity and chooses to serve for the common good, THAT is winning.  It's true that I've done a lot for the school in the time we've been there (and we've got 2 more years to go) but there is no way I would have been successful without the incredible team of people who help, in whatever way they can, over the course of the year.  I am proud to say we surpassed our fundraising goal this year, bringing our total to over 5 TIMES the goal in place when Magnolia started kindergarten at this school 6 years ago.  And while me venting on FB about what one parent said or another parent did or did not do is great for public amusement, I have to say, in all seriousness, I am humbled and honored to have had the opportunity and the skills needed to help where help was needed.

Everyone should do something.  Everyone should help for the sake of helping...in whatever way it works for you, there are SO MANY ways to do it.  I don't care if you have children or not, if it's for a school or not, whatever you can do to help humanity in whatever way, big or small, please, DO IT.