may's National Days

Teachers play an incredible role in the lives of students. Whether you have attended school and been surrounded by many teachers or been homeschooled and had a parent as a teacher or a singular teacher through online school, all teachers are important and all have a huge impact on the growth of youth into adulthood. Sometimes, it is important that we appreciate even the small things teachers do for students.

Perhaps, thinking of ways a teacher has helped you comes to you straight away and with ease, while maybe for others it is not so easy. It is good to acknowledge the teachers in our lives and share with them some of the ways they have helped us, even if those ways may have been small; even the smallest word of recognition can change a person's day for the better. This applies to teachers, too. Perhaps, learning from others' experiences with teachers can help you to think of ways to appreciate your teacher on this day, too.

Stacy Tornio, a education-focused freelance writer conducted research on a group of kids regarding the impact they felt teachers have had on their lives. Tornio writes, “More than half of students, 54 percent, say a teacher has helped them during a difficult time.” Tornio also interviewed people on if they felt a teacher has had a significant, positive impact on their lives and got the result of 88 percent. In the 70 percentile range, people say a teacher has been a role model or mentor, and that teachers have encouraged them to follow their dreams.

Not only do teachers give us lessons on education and life skills, but they also act as mentors and supporters. This year on May 2, pick a teacher–or multiple– and go tell them specifically how they have helped you. Whether it is big or small, the recognition and appreciation will change your teacher's day for the better, and encourage them to keep working hard to make a difference in all lives they encounter.

Cinco De Mayo is the celebration of Mexican-American pride, and commemoration of culture and heritage, though more in America than actual Mexico.

In the words of the History website, Cinco De Mayo “celebrates the date of the Mexican army’s May 5, 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War”. The Battle of Puebla on May 5 “represented a great symbolic victory for the Mexican Government” 

Though Cinco De Mayo is not greatly celebrated in Mexico, it is highly celebrated in America. In the U.S. Cinco De Mayo is a massive celebration of Mexican culture. Some of the common ways of celebration include: parades, parties, Mexican folk dancing, and traditional foods. 

The Kentucky Derby is the biggest horse racing event in the United States, and it happens on the first Saturday of every May.

The Kentucky Derby’s website states, “The Kentucky Derby is the longest running sporting event in the United States, dating back to 1875.” The Kentucky Derby was founded by the grandson of William Clark (As in from Lewis and Clark), Meriwether Lewis Clark. Meriwether was inspired by horseracing while in Europe in 1972 at the Epsom Derby in England. When he came back to the U.S., he was given land by two of his uncles in which he could start working towards his dreams. He created a club of local racing fans, the Louisville Jockey Club, who together raised funds for a permanent race track in Louisville, Kentucky. “On May 17th, 1875, the racetrack opened its gates and the Louisville Jockey Club sponsored the very first Kentucky Derby “, the history website provides.

 Presently, the Kentucky Derby usually holds around 150,000 spectators, most of which enjoy the pleasures of dressing up with big hats and fancy outfits: a Kentucky Derby tradition. To this day, the Kentucky Derby continues to mark an important part of horse racing in the United States.

May 21 celebrates the day 142 years ago when Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross. 

The American Red Cross is an organization who provides disaster relief and emergency assistance to those in need. The American Red Cross website states, “to this day we are tasked by the federal government with providing services to members of the American armed forces and their families as well as providing disaster relief in the United States and around the world.” 

An example of great work by the American Red Cross is during WWI when the U.S. declared war on Germany, the American Red Cross mobilized over 20,000 nurses and built 54 hospitals overseas, along with helping women and children at home volunteer and contribute to the war effort. The American Cross website concluded, “nearly one-third of all Americans had donated in support of the Red Cross effort”

On May 21, we are asked to remember and appreciate the anniversary of the founding of the Red Cross and the incredible things both staff and volunteers have been able to accomplish over the 142 years.

Annually, on Memorial Day, Americans remember the lives of both women and men, who were lost fighting for the United States. 

According to a document by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Memorial Day was declared a national holiday in 1971, but it was previously called “Decoration Day” in which people would plant flags and set flowers out among the graves of those who were lost during the Civil War. In 1966, President Lyndon Johnson decided that Waterloo, NY would be the birthplace of Memorial Day. From then until 1971, Memorial day was observed on May 30, but then Congress changed it to the last Monday in May.

On May 29, this year, remember the lives that were lost fighting for our country, and appreciate them for the great sacrifice they made for future generations.