The Optimist Club

My senior year of high school, I was called down to the guidance counselor’s office.  Mr. Winchell and I had gotten to know each other very well through the college application process and I liked him a lot.  He was positive, upbeat, and encouraging – all good qualities in a high school guidance counselor, his support was particularly helpful to me as I joined the Nouvel junior class in late November of the school year – not an easy age or time of year to transition.  Nonetheless, Mr. Winchell was both an ally and an advocate for me at a very challenging time in my life.

As I walked down the hallway, bright from the large windows that looked out into the central courtyard, I could smell chalk dust and the sloppy joes we had for lunch that day.  I turned the corner to Mr. Winchell’s office and waited at his halfway open door.  He greeted me as he turned away from his desk and welcomed me, “Hi Meaghan, come on in.  Take a seat. I’ve got some news for you.”

News?  Hmmmm.  I’m curious.  College decision finally made after weeks of meeting, discussing, and going back and forth, I was ready to move forward – spread my wings and fly.  I’d had enough instability over the past year and was ready for smooth sailing, no more surprises, no more change. Just let me bask in autopilot for a bit. Please.

“News?” I say to Mr. Winchell.  “Yes,” he replies.  “The other faculty and administrators met and we have nominated you as this year’s student ambassador to the Optimist Club!”  He’s beaming but my excitement is nowhere near where I think he thinks it should be.  What the heck is the Optimist Club? is what was running through my then eighteen-year-old mind.

“Well, that’s great,” I say as I smile tentatively at him, trying to at least look optimistic.  “But what exactly does that mean?”

Mr. Winchell nods with a smile and explains, “It is an honor to be selected and there is a scholarship award that comes with being inducted into the Optimist Club.  We chose you because of your positive attitude, your ability to always look at the bright side of a situation.  Here you are in your sr. year, only joining us a little over a year ago, and you have accomplished so much.  Even as you were dealing with your move to a new city and school, as well as your parents’ divorce, you have flourished here.  You are the senior class president and you will be our salutatorian.  You contributed on the varsity basketball team. And, you have made some great friends, not to mention, you are dating a great guy. We feel like you deserve this nomination because, through all of the challenges, you have made the most of each situation. You have always seen the cup as half full.  I’m really proud of you.”

So that was that.  I was awarded Optimist Club membership and a scholarship that contributed to my college education.  And that was all good. Fine.  Didn’t really give it too much thought or attention.  But ironically enough (and isn’t it just like life to be ironic), I think about the seed Mr. Winchell planted with my Optimist Club nomination often.  Perhaps it’s confirmation bias at it’s best – him planting the seed and me more fully living in to that optimistic bent. Or, perhaps it was the way my parents raised me.  Who knows where it is rooted, but I am certain that this outlook has served me well. I mean, why not be an optimist?  You can look at life, each day, any given moment, and think “Oh crap, this is really going to be hard/terrible/scary/the worst day ever” OR you can think, “Wow, I can’t wait to see what adventure awaits me today and what I can learn from it.”  Every day we get to choose.  And more times than not, I find myself choosing hope over fear.  Optimism over negativity. 

 Taggart and Sage will say, “We don’t want to go to the Farmer’s Market.   It’s boring.  Do we have to go?”  And, I’ll say, “Well, you just never know what you might find or see.  Why don’t you give it a chance?”  Now I say that, but they still complain and carry on and almost wreck the whole outing . . . until we get there, and alas, there is a puppy adoption day – who knew? - and they love puppies and they get to spend thirty minutes playing with the cutest puppies they’ve ever seen . . . And I look at both of them, raise my eyebrows and say, “What do I always tell you guys??? Stick with me kid.  I won’t steer you wrong.  Have a little faith!  Stay open to the good that could come – even when you least expect it.”

My mom always says, “Bloom where you are planted.”  Indeed, another way of saying, no matter the situation or where you find yourself, bloom.  Blossom. Reach for the sun.  Grow.  Find a way to make the most of whatever situation you are in.  It may just get you membership into the Optimist Club.  Not typically a joiner of any sort, it’s one club I am happy to say defines me (and believe me, I know of no other club I can say that about!).

Who knew?