Today is Thursday. Today would have been day two of three days of adulting classes at the library run during our four lunch shifts. But yesterday afternoon I cancelled day two and three because of the failure of day one.

Day one was about healthy body and mind and featured our teaching assistant in the library whose physical and mental fitness is attributed to a very solid routine that he’s developed over his lifetime that stretches him and invigorates him. Then it included the public library who constantly run programs, activities, and provide countless materials to build our capacity for knowledge much like the school library. But in the big, bad world of adulthood, school libraries are replaced with public libraries after graduation. It would have been followed by finances on day two and transportation on day three where community organizations and businesses would have a few representatives to impart wisdom and knowledge. But I made the call after less than a handful of students came for each period on day one. I envisioned a few classes and/or a packed corner of seniors oohing and ahhing over the new knowledge they have going forward.

That did not happen and it is okay. I drowned my sorrows with a blow pop at lunch when the seniors  (who were still here and using the school library) said they were either here to work on final projects and therefore not coming or were completely not interested.

Upon reflection, it was likely not the best timing with literally several days left in the school year. Combine that with a later-than-usual prom date of this coming Saturday and they’re more distracted with signing yearbooks and those last projects than learning some new things or reinforcing the knowledge that they have resources to use when they leave the sanctuary of their high school.

I will always use these opportunities (after a little bit of sadness) to improve for the next time. This was the library’s first attempt at adulting classes. And I failed. But my favorite image and line is to “fail forward”. This won’t mean I’ll give up on library programming. Actually, completely the opposite, I’ll use Maya Angelou’s “when you know better, do better” and come at it again from a different angle, some more student input, and better planning for when to share the resources we’ve amassed.

Has anyone else had this happen to them? What are your best tips and tricks for when things don’t go as planned?