# data[].attributes.body
"If we can't tell the revolutionaries from the normal folk, maybe the revolutionaries can't either." This phrase to me tells me that revolutionaries are just normal people. They are normal people who have strong convictions and, given the aligning of circumstances, stick to what they believe and the role gets thrust onto them. The beginning of the talk with the role call of students says just that to me. Revolutionaries can be just normal people who come through our classrooms. We can give them the tools necessary to achieve their fullest potential.

# data[].attributes.body
Wow! What a powerful speech by Sekou. The very beginning struck me with the set up of revolutionaries from the past as he calls them out for attendance in his classroom. To me this is telling us that any one of our students has the ability to make a change and to be revolutionary. The future lies in our classrooms and we have the power to help our students make a change. Another piece that I took away from this speech is to be true to yourself. When he started with the "I am" portion that is immediately what came to my mind. Be true to who you are because who you are is enough.

# data[].attributes.body
Towards the beginning Sekou asks, “What if revolutionaries had a school?”  Such an intriguing question that let to so many more…  What would it teach? Who could teach it? How would students be chosen?  What qualities must they have? Are some people more worthy than others to become revolutionaries?  Then Sekou makes a suggestion in a form of question that is revolutionary itself.  Maybe even revolutionaries can’t differentiate “us from them.”  “Maybe they see only the flammable potential in each of us?”

This question made me think of my own students.  Each of them has that flammable potential to change the world.  My job is not just to try to give them the tools to reach their potential.  I also need to help them see that potential.  So often, we get stuck in daily realities and only encourage students to focus on short-term practical goals.  We need to remember that it’s just as important to encourage students to dream about the possibilities that we might not even be able to understand ourselves.  As educators we need to build the “army of unconventional thinkers” that Sekou describes.

# data[].attributes.body
What an amazing speaker! The things I took away from this was everyone has potential, no matter what age and we, as teachers, need to help guide students to follow their dreams. The end of his speech, when talking about the 9 month old, was a really cool way to end his speech. I just loved the overall passion this guy spoke with. I hope to see the potential in every one of my students and to teach with the kind of passion that this person spoke with.

# data[].attributes.body
On top of the overall message of this video, what struck me the most was Sekou Andrews' passion when he spoke. As he was performing as a teacher, I was brought into this world he was creating. It was inspiring and encouraged me to increase my passion when teaching. The message I recieved was the importance that an educator has, as we never truly know the full potential of the students we have in our class, the dreams they may have. Our job as teachers is to guide these young minds to follow their dreams, find their purpose and what they are passionate for, and make an impact on society.

# data[].attributes.body
Roll call starts and I started imagining the teachers that these amazing revolutionaries once had. Were they aware of the influences these young people would have in the world when they started to blaze their path? It made me start thinking about the students I have and how I can help them feed their potential to become revolutionaries, influencers and leaders.

Notes I made:

-Find your purpose, declare it, own it, and celebrate it!!

-Make room for your dreams
-Know your passion

-Make a life of it

-Blaze a path

# data[].attributes.body
Oh, I had goosebumps at the end of this speach. When Sekou Andrews started his speech naming people who have made an impact in the world he made me think about the students in my classroom. I don't know what these students are going to do in their lives after school but I can help them find their purpose in life. Help them find their voice, their mission, what is important to them and why. I also thought about times that in my head I thought, " Oh this student is headed for jail" I need to not ever give up on my students and to help them to find the tools they need to make their path so they have a postive impact on the world.

# data[].attributes.body
After watching Revolution 101 by Sekou Andrews I am compelled to help my students believe in the very fact that they are the future leaders of our world no matter how big or small. I want to show them how their voice matters. I really like how Andrews used “I am…” statements in his speech. It just goes to show how powerful these self affirmations can be. I hope to work to use “I am…” statements with my students to help empower them to be themselves as well as believe in themselves.

# data[].attributes.body
What I got out of Sekou Andrews speech is that we as educators have a huge responsibility to be open to people's thoughts, dreams, and ideas. We need to help facilitate our students potential because anyone of our students are capable of great things. We as their leaders need to be innovative, creative and passionate.

# data[].attributes.body
After watching Revolution 101 by Sekou Andrews, I feel empowered to share Andrews ideas about passion and individuality with my future students. As a teacher who is deeply committed to the success of my students, I feel that I model determination, excitement, and dedication in my classroom. However, it is not enough for me to display these traits...I need to let my students know how much power lies within each of themselves. It is humbling to think that the future of the world is truly in our hands as educators! The biggest takeaway from the clip for me was Andrew’s declarement of making yourself proud. “...Make a legacy of it and a life of it…like, you better make room…” Whatever challenges our students face in their lives, it is our responsibility as educators to teach children to know that they were made to be original. There is no doubt that hardships will rise in our lives and our students’ lives, but ultimately, our mindsets must exemplify the resiliency within all of us.

# data[].attributes.body
I felt impacted by the section Sekou Andrews kept repeating the phrase "I am." It truly showed me how people around us and "normal" people can cause revolutions and make an impact. It's not something we are always born to do, but anyone has the ability to cause waves. I also enjoyed the beginning when he was referring to his classroom and the various famous people in it. It reminds me that we truly do not know who are students will be. So for now we must think of them able to accomplish amazing things in their futures because they absolutely could. All of our students have the capability to be something incredible and change our world. We never know who they will become, so we must look at them with our growth mindset.

# data[].attributes.body
What an amazing speech by Sekou! I love how in the beginning he paints a picture of famous revolutionists in a classroom and that is powerful and eye opening. Any one of our students can make a difference in this world, and we have an important job in fostering that creativity and spirit. We need to create an environment in our classrooms that promote these things and create a sense of confidence in our students that they can do anything.

# data[].attributes.body
Holy cow! What a passionate and motivating speech. That had me locked in for the full 7 minutes, inspiring me to inspire others. I thought it was really neat how Sekou started by imagining a class that had important historical figures in class. Then by the end he was using current people of any age, including Alex from the audience, a 5 year old with a Dora backpack, and a 9 month old. How true is it that the revolutionaries we learn about and teach about in school received an education at some point in life? And that education led them to stand up for what they believed in and change the world. Who knows what kids in our classrooms are going to accomplish in the future? As teachers, we need to instill the confidence and motivate them to reach their potential. I think that was my biggest takeaway from this talk. Every person is oozing with potential. As educators we have a duty to try and unleash that potential.

# data[].attributes.body
Sekou Andrews stated something to the effect that if we can’t tell the difference between the revolutionaries and the normal folk maybe that can’t either. To my mind he is sharing that people we now know as revolutionaries didn’t have that as their dream job or goal in life. They were just being who they needed to be to be true to themselves. “I am.”  You have to know who you are and be authentic to that. I need to be myself as an educator and allow my students to be themselves. I need to create a space where everyone can express their thoughts and ideas.

# data[].attributes.headline
The future of the world is in our classrooms today

# data[].attributes.subject
The future of the world is in our classrooms today

# data[].attributes.body
Wow. Sekou Andrews’ speech was so empowering and came at the perfect time for me. The first connection I made to this video is the quote “the future of the world is in my classroom today.” I have this saying on a sign on my classroom door as a daily reminder that I am educating the future. This video was a powerful reminder that every leader or revolutionary was a kid who had a teacher. I want to be the teacher that encourages all my kids to take risks, think outside the box, and believe in something. I am going to continue to teach my students about different cultures and traditions, how and why we need to take care of the environment, and about compassion. I hope these lessons are the start of my students’ lifelong journey to become involved in their communities and the world.

# data[].attributes.body
Goose bumps!  Simply goosebumps!   Right away there is a feeling of remembering that the students in my classroom are the future revolutionists of our world.  It is humbling to think that you could be the person that influences the next change maker to accept their mission and find their cause.  As I listened there was a strong call to me that I need to help students to fan the flames of their potential instead of allowing them to snuff it out.  As I listened I could hear threads of all of the different parts of resilience and growth mindset that have been touched on in this course.  Thinking about the Sekou Andrew's quote of "face the grain and going against it unafraid" motivates me to face this year of uncertainty with strength and confidence instead of fear and worry. I continued to listen to his closing speech from this TedX talk and he talked about stepping into the darkness and creating our own light. If I can be the light in the darkness for even one of my students I will feel as if I have succeeded!

# data[].attributes.body
Right away in the video, Sekou Andrews reminded me that the great movers and shakers of our nation were once in student desks just like ours. It was inspiring to me how the next leaders of our country are in our chairs right now. We ought to challenge and inspire them to instill the values that we hold to be important. As a teacher, we have the position to encourage our students to make the world a better place. I think I would have really enjoyed listening to Andrews before a sporting event. He has the energy that makes me think I can do anything. We can also do that for our students.

# data[].attributes.body
Sekou Andrews presented a very powerful and motivating message. A moment that stood out to me is when he suggests taking on life by “declaring your major… finding your cause… accepting your mission and taking on the job, and the purpose and the identity of a revolutionary.” That is the action I was inspired to take. Define my purpose and claim the identity of someone capable of enacting change. If we more deeply understand the meaning behind our intentions and actions, we have a better chance of accomplishing them. As teachers, we can better show up for our students if we believe in ourselves. Teaching is an occupation that constantly requires energy be put toward helping others succeed. I also want to spend energy on my own well-being. Reminding ourselves of our own abilities and passions will encourage our students to harness their own.

# data[].attributes.body
I can see all of the threads of this course binding together into this one TED Talk.  I am reminded of our earlier postings on our core values and beliefs, I am reminded of our chapters from Onward about grit and determination, I am reminded of our characteristics of growth mindset that empower us to constantly evolve and improve.  Taken together, Sekou's message here is to stand up, step forward, and put into action all that we are, all that we believe, and all we can become as human beings.  Lastly, I'm reminded that there is no perfect time in which to step forward and take that risk.  If we wait for the ideal time, we will never act.  We must act now, in the moment.

# data[].attributes.body
This video inspires me to see my own potential to make a difference in this world. It also reminds me that each and every one of my students has that same potential. The people that Sekou Andrews referred to all began as regular people, just like you an me. It is our job to prepare our students to be thinkers, questioners and change-makers. I love this perspective and will do my best to foster these skills in all of my students each and every day.

# data[].attributes.body
This video was an amazing reminder to harness the power we all have. The power for revolution, for change. For me, it means the power to be the good. To be that helping hand or that listening ear. The power to stand up for what I believe in  The courage to speak out when necessary and speak up whenever possible. As a teacher, it means to make sure my students and my co -workers get the very best of me, so I can see the very best of them.

# data[].attributes.body
I am statements are a powerful way to inspire a growth mindset. By using these we affirm the power we hold. If we say it we can manifest what we want to be! Our thoughts lead to feelings or emotions that impact and affect our behavior. I thought how he related famous visionary to the potential in each of us was very powerful. As teachers, we can inspire this within our students and help set them on a trajectory for success!

# data[].attributes.body
One thing that stood out to me was that we need to tackle every part of our life and job head on. We need to look at our strengths and use those to our advantage. One thing Sekou stated was “….who stands facing the direction of the grain unafraid to go against it.” We need to overcome obstacles as if they aren’t even there. We need to empower our students to do their best and remember that they are someone who can make a difference someday, whether that be tomorrow or 25 years from now. Every person we interact with has the ability to change the world, we just need to use our strengths and attack it head on.

# data[].attributes.body
I think that this video tied in perfectly with some of the work we did a few weeks ago on our core values and vision. When Sekou was talking about the events that started these revolutionaries on their paths (one example was the whipping of a slave, which made Harriet Tubman work for FREEDOM) it made me think of the values I hold dearest. How do I react if I see someone abuse or neglect something that is of core value to me? It also made me think of the demonstrations that have been happening across America after the lynching of George Floyd. I think many people were moved to action for Equality. I know that I participated in my first peaceful demonstration as a result.

# data[].attributes.body
This Ted Talk by Sekou Andrews  reminded me that I can inspire others. Each year I have a different group of students. I don't know where they are headed yet my actions may help them get where they are needed. They are our future. It makes me think how it is my role to model and teach them the skills to make this world a better place.

# data[].attributes.body
After listening to the Ted Talk I thought about the way we see strengths and/or something special in our students that they often don't see in themselves. It was interesting when hearing him talk about average people that just had enough one day and now they are considered to be heroes to many and that could be us one day. I never considered that. It's inspiring to think that we have that in ourselves or we could be the person that inspires our students to be the change the world needs.

# data[].attributes.body
After listening to this Ted Talk I was reminded with how our education system needs true fundamental change. We teachers, can be that change. We can show students how to stay open minded, to be kind to those around them, that they can think for themselves, and that they can make a huge difference in our world that needs to see a lot of change.

# data[].attributes.body
According to Merriam Webster dictionary, one meaning of  Revolution is: "a fundamental change in the way of thinking about or visualizing something." After watching this poetic video from Sekou Andrews, I feel compelled that as an educator, "I AM" able to help make a fundamental change with students in how they view themselves, their learning, and their future.