What are you thankful for? We get asked this question a lot during this time of the year. In all honesty, I like to think about the things that I am thankful for constantly. Not that I disagree with being especially thankful during Thanksgiving, but I think about the great things in my life all the time, and the bad ones too. I like to celebrate the good things in my life, but I also like to think about the challenges I face every day. Why? Because these challenges and how we face them are what make us stronger. We fall, but we get up again, we stumble, but we recover, we fail, but we learn from our failures.
What are your plans for the break? Well, I will say it again: spend time with your loved ones. Hug those around you. Don’t wait until it is too late to do it. A smile can change many things. “What does this have to do with Safety and Security, Gabe?” Well, a lot. How we treat others influences their behavior and their actions. When we reach out to those struggling, we are probably helping someone make a better choice. Kindness is the secret. That’s why I encourage this more than anything else.
Now, in a more practical way, please take all the right measures to stay safe during the Thanksgiving break. If you are going out of town and you are expecting some packages to be delivered, make sure to let somebody know. Keep the front lights of your house on during the night. Tell a neighbor you’ll be away.
Whenever you go somewhere, don’t leave valuables in your car. Be always aware of your surroundings, and report to the police any suspicious activity you witness. Remember to always be the best witness you can be.
I am thankful to you. I am thankful for the opportunity to be here at STEM. I am thankful for your students and the story we are writing together. I am thankful for the good days and the bad ones too.
Let’s keep working hard to keep our students safe! Let me tell you again how thankful I am for having the opportunity to be part of your student’s story. If you have questions, please email me at gabe.uribe@stemk12.org and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Stay warm, and enjoy the break! Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
GO SPARTANS!
Be safe!
Deputy Gabe