The Principal's Perspective
January 12-16, 2026
Trigger warning for Packers Fans- skip to the last paragraph LOL!
If you were tuned in to the game this past weekend, you know exactly what "Chicago Football" feels like. Of all the games- I was gifted with the opportunity to attend a once in a lifetime game!. To me, honestly, this WAS the Superbowl (without the halftime show). As I walked to the stadium, the snow was coming down in thick sheets—the kind of freezing, biting weather that defines Chicago. I remember thinking, this is perfect football weather, while praying that my mitten warmers and boot warmers would do their job. I walked on the field and I knew- WE GOT THIS! But the most incredible thing happened right at the start. As soon as the coin flipped, the snow had tapered off and it felt like a signal— we were emerging from the storm and stepping into something new.
Despite putting the first points on the board, by halftime, the scoreboard looked grim: Packers 21, Bears 3. Packers Fans dared to taunt those of us around them but we had our cheese graters ready to go! It appeared to them that the game was over. And, even as the game progressed they continued to keep the lead as we made steady growth, a field goal here, a touchdown here, and a safety there! It seemed as thought every time we took a step forward, so would they! In many other cities, you would have seen some fans exiting toward the parking lot disappointed. But at Soldier Field, not one person moved. We stayed in our seats, shivering but steadfast.
Why? Because we knew we had "football" time. We knew that our Bears have history of coming out in the clutch when it matters most- we are that 4th quarter last 4 minutes of the game champs! Let's be honest, the score was 27-16, Packers up in the 4th quarter with 5:35 to go! They do not call them the "Cardiac Bears" for no reason! Our heart rates were all over the place, but we were all just waiting for that one spark—the moment the offense would "break the ice"—and we weren't going to miss it.
There is a motto circulating around the Bears right now that resonates far beyond the football field:
"Good, better, best. Never let it rest 'til your good gets better and your better gets best!"
That relentless pursuit of improvement is exactly what we want to see in our Nichols Lions every day. They are in a phase of life where the "score" doesn't always look the way they want it to. Whether it’s a tough math unit, a friendship pact, or a missed goal on the soccer field, our students often find themselves in their own version of a "21-3" halftime.
As parents, we are the coaches on the sidelines. Much like a coach in a high-stakes game, we guide, we direct, and we hope for the best. The truth is, we don’t always know the "plays" that the world is going to throw at our scholars. Life doesn't come with a standard playbook for middle school, or for parenting for that matter. However, our most important job isn't to have all the answers—it’s to never give up. Our children are watching us. When they see us persist through our own challenges, they learn that they can do whatever they have been set up to do. They learn that a halftime deficit is just a setup for a fourth quarter comeback.
Even as adults, we have to remember to never count ourselves out. Whether you are navigating a career change, a personal hurdle, or the beautiful chaos of parenting a pre-teen, remember that the "snow" eventually stops, and the game isn't over until...well, you know the saying. Let’s keep pushing, keep coaching, and keep believing in our kids (and ourselves). Let’s never let it rest until our "better" becomes our "best."
Bear Down!
