Middle school is a time of great change and upheaval in a person’s life. We can thank puberty for that, along with an adolescent’s growing self-awareness and sense of identity.

Many students try on different superficial identities, coming to school with a carefully cultivated goth, punk, or preppy look. If it doesn’t fit, they simply move on to the next one.

On the other hand, there are profound transformations that are possible when students are willing. They can let go of a lifelong antipathy toward math and become devoted to it; instead of being closed off and lonely, they can initiate friendships.

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When faced with an overwhelming mess — I have one in my living room right now, the result of literally emptying the contents of a pickup truck, including a table saw, onto the floor — it is sometimes reasonable to take drastic measures. Let’s shove it all into a closet or call the junk people to haul it all away.

And when the mess is more of an intangible one — a broken process, a difficult relationship, a cluttered schedule — we likewise might seek ways to metaphorically shove it in a closet or send it to the dump.

But sometimes, the elements are too valuable to discard. We must salvage what we can. In these cases, we have to use a more deliberate process. At the very moment when we most want to rush and just be done with the whole thing, we have to slow down and be present. When we do, we might discover a much more satisfying experience and outcome.

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I had an agenda for the summer.

Of course, I had already given up on my usual summer agenda of traveling, visiting family, and having a lighter workload than usual due to school being out. So, my new agenda accounted for the coronavirus restrictions and complications and mandated a season of creative work. I planned for a high output, taking advantage of plenty of free time.

That didn’t happen. Even though I have the time, taking care of immediate concerns consumes most of my energy, leaving little left over for more work.

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It’s a weird time to run an online business.

On the one hand, I feel as though I have a lot to contribute that could be helpful right now. My experience with online education and remote work is suddenly relevant to many, and my broader experience as an educator could be helpful to families and teachers looking for stuff to do to keep their kids learning and engaged in meaningful ways.

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The public middle schools in Atlanta (and many other cities) have a school day that lasts for seven hours.

On top of this, students have homework — anywhere from zero (if you skip it) to three hours.

That doesn’t even take into account commuting and stuff. A twelve-year-old is spending seven to ten hours a day working.

That is a very long time to spend doing something that you didn’t choose, but what makes it especially painful is that it’s not particularly effective. There is no guarantee that a student is actually learning what is supposed to be learned.

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