Once or twice a month, I ask my Advisory students to share a rose, thorn, and bud as a quick check-in about how their week is going. (Fair warning: bud can be a tricky word for some high schoolers. “The flower kind!” I say. “The kind that opens into a beautiful flower! Think: something you’re hopeful about!”)
Rose:
I recently discovered that on Mondays and Tuesdays every week, a local animal clinic takes up to three feral cats per colony for low-cost TNR. In the past two weeks, I’ve trapped and neutered three cats. I’m so excited every time a cat goes into the trap and triggers the mechanism! While they’re being prepped for surgery, they also get a check-up and treatment. Two of the three cats we’ve brought in have been sick or had a wound that needed treating, so this has been a great way to get some free vet care to get them healthy. Best of all, Mango, one of two female cats in the colony I care for, has now been spayed. I had hoped to trap the female cats first to avoid kitten season, and I’m now halfway to that goal.
Thorn:
I have procrastinated on a major writing task and now face a pressing deadline–and still no motivation to write. I have a meeting at 1:30 today to review written commentary that has yet to be written. I’m going to get a second cup of coffee and hope to wrangle my brain into forming coherent sentences very quickly.
Bud:
For much of last week, an upcoming high-stakes assessment has been my thorn, but I am starting to feel optimistic about my students’ level of preparation and ability to jump through this particular hoop successfully. Also, by the end of the week they will be finished with their writing, and we can move on to other things.
Do you have a rose, thorn, and bud for the week?
the dirigible plum 
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