Facts of Life

I can't help but keep singing The Facts of Life theme song this week. If you grew up in the 80s, like I did, I know you know it: "You take the good. You take the bad. You take them both and there you have the facts of life. Yeah, the facts of life . . ." Even in this very short work week, I was greeted by both the very good and the very bad, which makes for a roller coaster of a week, but hey, that's the facts of life.
Let's start with the good. . . A little while ago I found out 6 of my students earned Gold Keys in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards contest. I was so excited about their accomplishments but was even more thrilled when I received official word this week that one of those students had been chosen to receive a National Silver Medal for his short story! This is a tremendous honor. He and I were even invited to New York City to attend a celebration at Carnegie Hall in June. A great way to start off the short work week.
Now, here's the bad. . . two of my students were suspended for supposedly selling and buying drugs at school. But to make matters worse, this evidently happened in my homeroom. Of course, I didn't see it, but I feel terrible about the whole thing. They have both gotten themselves into a lot of trouble. Not a great way to end the short week.
In three days time, I was forced to realize that you truly have to take the good with the bad. It is inevitable, the facts of life.