Jaime Washington maintains an impressive routine that starts exceptionally early, rising at 3-4 AM five to six days a week. As she explains, "I'm a morning person so I'm up before the alarm which is usually at three o'clock three to four am every morning." This early start allows her to incorporate regular walking and exercise into her daily routine, which she credits as essential for managing the demanding role of principal.
Washington emphasizes the critical importance of listening to her body and setting boundaries to maintain effectiveness. "When I'm tired I listen to my body and my body says okay you need to go ahead and get you some rest," she shares. She has learned to say no to commitments when physically drained, explaining "I've learned to stop being a people pleaser" because it doesn't work for her "psyche and my mental and physical health." Her approach to work-life balance involves completely disconnecting when she leaves work: "I've learned how to disconnect and unplug when I'm outside of these four walls because I have a family at home that I have to give attention and time to."
Her daily philosophy centers around making a positive impact, guided by her evening reflection practice. Washington ends each day asking herself "I'm glad I did versus I wish I would have," ensuring she can say "I'm glad that I did reach out to this family or I'm glad I did do this or i did do that." She focuses on being fully present in whatever capacity she chooses, maintaining the mindset of "what can I do today to make a difference in someone else's world in a positive manner."
In her closing advice to young people navigating their careers and life choices, Washington emphasizes the importance of consistent goodness and authentic relationships. "Continue to do good in everything that you do from the first person you meet every morning," she advises, while reminding listeners not to "take for granted your loved one because tomorrow really is a promise to anybody."
Her most powerful message centers on self-trust and living authentically. "Trust yourself," Washington states firmly, "you only have one life to live." She encourages young people to embrace this reality with urgency and purpose, sharing her core philosophy: "live your best life as if it is your last day on earth and make a difference." This advice reflects her own journey from a small town in Belle Glade, Florida, to becoming a principal who prioritizes influence over position, always focusing on helping students discover their own path rather than meeting others' expectations.
"For me it's never about the position, it's all about my influence with the students."
— Jaime B. Washington Washington explains her motivation for becoming a principal and what drives her in educational leadership.
"I go to bed at night with a little saying where I say 'I'm glad I did' versus 'I wish I would have' - so that's my motto daily."
— Jaime B. Washington Washington shares her personal philosophy for living without regrets and making meaningful choices each day.
"Live your best life as if it is your last day on earth and make a difference."
— Jaime B. Washington Washington's closing advice to young people about how to approach life and career decisions.
[0:00] for me it's never about the position [0:02] it's all about my influence with the [0:04] students so when i'm tired i listen to [0:07] my body and my body says okay you need [0:09] to go ahead and get you some rest so on [0:11] the weekends i try to get just a young [0:12] lady from a little small town called [0:15] belle glade florida i was born and [0:16] raised here in florida and i just keep [0:18] it very [0:19] direct [0:26] in today's interview you will meet with [0:28] miss washington [0:29] she is the principal at seminole high [0:32] school ninth grade center [0:35] i worked with her when i was a ptsa [0:38] president of seminole high school you [0:41] will find that [0:43] she's very [0:45] clear about what she want to do [0:49] how she is living her life and how she's [0:51] driving her work and [0:54] the mission that she has [0:56] for herself and her work [0:59] so miss washington today we will start [1:02] asking [1:03] what you wanted to become [1:05] when you was in high school when i was [1:08] in high school i wanted to become a [1:09] teacher [1:10] believe it or not [1:15] okay [1:16] what was your first job my first job i [1:19] worked at the city hall in my hometown [1:22] and then from there to the current job [1:25] what all happened [1:27] from high school i went on to college [1:30] i worked in a hospital in college and [1:32] then when i left from college i had a [1:34] degree in cardiopulmonary science so [1:37] basically that was respiratory therapy [1:39] and then i had dual certs so therefore i [1:42] did the [1:43] medical field until i had some [1:46] health exposure situations were life and [1:49] death and then i switched over into [1:51] teaching [1:53] and from teaching i went right up the [1:55] ranks from a classroom teacher to a dean [1:56] of students to an assistant principal [1:58] director and now principal [2:02] and i know from an assistant principle [2:04] to a principal is a big jump you go [2:07] through interviews you go through [2:09] recommendation there is a longer journey [2:12] there so how did that work out for you [2:17] it was a long process i i don't think [2:19] that everyone is cut out from high [2:22] school of course because you're still [2:23] not mature the brain hasn't fully [2:25] developed as we all know [2:27] in high school and i would say it was [2:29] definitely a huge transformation from an [2:32] assistant principal to a principal and i [2:34] even think even still [2:36] you're not fully ready for all of the [2:39] challenges [2:40] that come along as a principal of any [2:42] school [2:44] and at what point you [2:47] knew that you want to become a principal [2:50] i never knew that i wanted to become a [2:52] principal it's amazing how that kind of [2:55] transformed i just think sometimes your [2:56] village and the company you keep can see [2:59] sometimes qualities within yourself that [3:01] you don't see [3:02] and so for me it's never about the [3:05] position it's all about my influence [3:07] with the students [3:09] and that's always been my ammunition [3:12] shall we say my why in life is helping [3:14] the students [3:16] i have i have way more joy helping [3:18] students [3:19] um just because students are still in a [3:21] position where you can actually [3:24] mold them and help transform them so [3:27] that they can understand the actions [3:29] that they're [3:30] involved in today how that could have an [3:32] effect long term [3:34] you spoke about helping kid and seems [3:37] like that's one of the aspiration that [3:39] is driving you in this job and your [3:42] career tell me more about it [3:45] and i will [3:46] add different kids have different [3:48] aspiration they have different needs [3:51] so what helping kid means to you [3:56] i feel that [3:58] i deal with a lot of parents who want to [4:00] live their lives through their children [4:03] and [4:04] that's [4:05] and that in my opinion is not fair to [4:08] the child [4:09] i believe very firmly that children [4:12] should figure out their why on their own [4:15] accord [4:16] and sometimes their why is not the [4:18] expectation of what the parent wants for [4:20] the child [4:22] and i see the child struggle even more [4:25] when they're trying to appease a number [4:27] of folks [4:28] and what i get here at the 9th grade [4:30] campus is students who have [4:34] worked really hard to keep a smile on [4:36] their face [4:38] but yet deep down they're hurting [4:40] so my focus is really trying to get into [4:43] the child's psyche and understanding to [4:46] service the whole child the total child [4:48] letting the child know it's okay if you [4:50] fail it's okay if you have a bad day [4:53] it's okay [4:55] if you don't [4:56] want to wear you know the popular [4:58] clothes i mean there's so many decisions [5:01] that children have to make in this day [5:02] and age from who their friends are going [5:04] to be [5:05] are they going to be liked are they [5:07] going to be perceived the right way by [5:09] their peers who is still trying to [5:10] figure it out themselves [5:12] should they do the right thing should [5:14] they do the wrong thing should they go [5:15] to class late should they be a [5:17] disruption in the classroom should they [5:19] just sit in the class and just work [5:21] quietly and pretend that they know [5:23] what's happening they don't really know [5:24] what's happening [5:26] you know so i'd like to just i love the [5:29] fact that children are always going to [5:31] be honest with you [5:32] and they will tell you the truth if you [5:35] listen so i love that and i love to take [5:37] kids from where they are and to help [5:39] them with [5:40] continuing making good decisions because [5:42] i feel like a lot of times students [5:44] confide in me and they tell me a lot of [5:46] things that they don't tell their family [5:47] members because they're afraid of [5:50] disappointment and i do feel that [5:52] disappointment and failures is all a [5:54] part of life and growing and developing [5:57] and it's and i think it's the sooner we [5:59] become as a just a nation to accept [6:03] students [6:04] failures and student strengths we could [6:07] just be a more accepting society because [6:09] not everyone's going to get it right [6:11] the first go round so i'm a very [6:14] realistic person [6:16] and i feel that that is critical in a [6:17] child's [6:19] development in a child's [6:21] life decision because the quicker they [6:23] can be comfortable with themselves the [6:25] quicker a child is able to [6:27] quite honestly make decisions for him or [6:29] herself or whatever the child you also [6:32] suggested kids to find who they are [6:36] understanding what they want versus what [6:39] other people expect from them and i know [6:41] that's a complicated process i'm still [6:43] trying to find who i am and what i want [6:46] from my life [6:47] so what's your suggestion [6:50] to kids how they can find who they are [6:53] and how they can identify [6:55] what they want to do what they want to [6:57] become [6:58] listening to that inner voice we all [7:00] have an inner voice i'm a firm believer [7:03] you have that inner voice that tells you [7:05] a lot of times when you're going through [7:07] life itself that will say to you [7:10] don't do that [7:12] or you should try that [7:14] and i do feel like that is our own [7:16] individual [7:19] monitor and pulse and it's a good [7:22] voice to have [7:24] because a lot of times that voice can [7:26] help you [7:27] meet a new friend try a new experience [7:30] you never considered before [7:33] and [7:34] just to get the exposure because i have [7:36] a lot of students who are very shy [7:39] they're very timid and they don't know [7:40] how to make friends and it's really [7:42] important for them to understand it's [7:44] okay you don't have to push yourself on [7:46] someone for them to like you just start [7:49] very slow [7:52] so coming back to you [7:54] what drive you [7:57] coming back to work [7:59] and your respiration my motivation is um [8:03] life itself [8:04] i know sometimes people take it for [8:05] granted [8:07] because i think a lot of times and i [8:08] think in light of this whole covet [8:11] pandemic we have to appreciate life [8:16] and laughter so my why in life quite [8:19] frankly is [8:21] love life and laughter [8:24] i love the three i like them when [8:25] they're together [8:28] but um [8:29] yeah that's it you know family is really [8:31] important to me [8:33] and i think as long as you keep the [8:34] things that are very important to you [8:37] along with a combination of my [8:38] spirituality it helps [8:42] make decisions in my day-to-day work [8:46] i've learned how to [8:48] disconnect and unplug when i'm outside [8:49] of these four walls [8:51] because i have a family at home that i [8:53] have to give attention and time to the [8:55] same memory which i give [8:57] time and attention to here at work but [9:00] i've found that some people [9:03] work so hard [9:05] and then when it's time to retire they [9:07] can't enjoy it because they basically [9:09] pass away [9:10] or when they do there's no family or [9:13] support system there for them [9:15] in their final days on earth so i feel [9:18] like as we get older in life you start [9:20] to realize what's important [9:22] so my health [9:25] in so many capacities whether that's [9:26] physical or mental health [9:29] and like i said the love of family and [9:30] loved ones is extremely important for me [9:33] so i figured it out i feel and i go to [9:36] bed at night i have a little saying [9:38] where i say [9:40] i'm glad i did versus i wish i would [9:42] have so that's my motto daily so when i [9:45] go to bed at night i'm glad that i did [9:47] reach out to this family or i'm glad i [9:49] did do this or i did do that i helped a [9:52] student out here i helped the teacher [9:54] out i helped support staff like all i do [9:56] when i get to work from the moment i get [9:58] out my car [9:59] is i'm helping [10:01] and so that's my why [10:04] to be the best i can be at all times and [10:06] to have [10:08] that mentality where and the mindset to [10:12] say to myself quite honestly [10:16] what can i do today to make a difference [10:18] in someone else's world in a positive [10:20] manner [10:22] i love the clarity you have [10:24] about who you are [10:27] what you want to do and what you're [10:29] doing in everyday [10:30] life i have lost three questions [10:33] [Music] [10:35] there are days when you feel so much [10:37] energy [10:39] and then there are days when you're not [10:42] so [10:43] how do you handle those days i [10:47] practice walking a lot [10:49] exercise [10:50] so i'm a morning person so i'm up before [10:53] the alarm which is usually at three [10:54] o'clock three to four am every morning [10:57] and that's honestly five to six days a [10:59] week [11:00] so when i'm tired i listen to my body [11:03] and my body says okay you need to go [11:04] ahead and get you some rest so on the [11:06] weekends i try to get the rest but [11:07] sometimes you know other obligations [11:09] won't afford me to do so because maybe [11:11] i've committed to participate in [11:13] something but i have learned to say no [11:16] so if i'm extremely physically drained i [11:19] will have to just simply say no to other [11:21] engagements just so that i allow myself [11:24] an opportunity to refuel and to refresh [11:27] myself so that i am able to [11:30] be 100 present in whatever capacity that [11:33] i choose to like i've learned to stop [11:35] being a people pleaser [11:38] i used to be a big people pleaser but [11:41] that just doesn't work for me and my [11:44] psyche and my mental and physical health [11:46] so i've learned how to just tell people [11:48] you know unfortunately respectfully you [11:51] know i'm not able to make whatever that [11:53] engagement is because if i'm extremely [11:55] tired [11:56] and it happens a lot and that's why i [11:59] don't commit a lot outside of things for [12:01] my family and work [12:03] because i give pretty much all of myself [12:06] between the two entities [12:09] how do you see your journey so far [12:12] and what's your aspiration for next five [12:14] to ten years [12:16] i am proud of where i am today [12:21] from where i started as a young lady a [12:24] little girl growing up in a little small [12:26] hometown [12:28] and [12:30] in five to ten years [12:32] i hope that i'm retired from my [12:34] profession [12:36] and believe it or not what i want to do [12:38] when i retire which is so interesting i [12:41] want to volunteer in like the hospitals [12:43] to feed the infants [12:45] and so [12:49] i want to be able to just look back and [12:51] see something [12:53] or a child or a past student to say you [12:55] know what miss washington you made a [12:57] difference [12:59] i remember when you know and and to me [13:02] that's that is fulfilling [13:05] in five or ten years [13:08] my last question for you [13:09] what is your message to my audience and [13:13] my audience kids who are in high school [13:16] or college the people who are in their [13:19] early career [13:20] trying to [13:22] identify what they want to do in their [13:24] life [13:26] and [13:27] trying to [13:30] shape their career [13:32] what [13:33] they can do today [13:35] that has a longer-term impact [13:38] and [13:39] what would be your recommendation to [13:41] these people [13:43] continue to do good [13:45] in everything that you do [13:47] from the first person you meet every [13:49] morning [13:50] don't take for granted you know your [13:52] loved one because tomorrow really is a [13:54] promise to anybody [13:56] and [13:59] trust yourself [14:01] you only have one life to live [14:04] so my belief is live your best life as [14:07] if it is your last day on earth and make [14:10] a difference [14:13] thank you so much for your time today [14:16] you're so welcome thanks for having me [14:21] [Music] [14:28] [Music] [14:39] you
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