It's About Perspective

• Divorce. 
• Death. 
• Disability. 
• Tumor. 
• Racism 
• Hunger.
• Abuse. 
• Neglect. 
• Cancer.
• Suicide.
• War.

This is quite a list, but each word reminds me of a student or even more than one student who in one way or another had to face these challenges.  Sometimes the student has had the cancer or been the victim of neglect.  Other times, the student has witnessed the death or the divorce or been part of a family who has dealt with the suicide.  Each instance, however, has tugged my heart and changed who I am as an educator.  Even more, each instance has changed who I am as a person.

How do we support these students?  How do we nurture and help students to be the best learners they can be when they seem to face insurmountable odds?  The answers, of course, are not simple.  First, I keep an active prayer list.  It defines me and helps me cope.  Next, we offer professional help as much as possible.  We often collect money to help.  In every case of neglect or abuse, we report to the appropriate authorities.  We work hand in hand with other professional organizations, but sometimes you just can't do enough to ever make a difference.

I was reminded of a very important lesson today.  For several reasons, I've been feeling rather down lately.  There just doesn't seem to be enough of me to go around or to be all that I want to be.  You know the feeling.  You want to help more people, but you feel like you're just hitting your head against the wall.  It seems to culminate with the "one last straw" event that makes you cranky and just want to hang your head, close your eyes, and ask, "What next?"

My "what next" was a box of chocolates.  A student gave me a box of chocolates for Valentine's Day, and today I needed chocolate.  I went to grab the box and quickly saw the name of the student who had given it to me.  My heart stopped for a bit because just over a year ago I had atteneded this student's father's funeral.  He died from cancer.  Everything was put back in perspective...immediately.

It's easy to get down when you see kids struggle, and yet I am constantly reminded how successful many of these kids have been since they have initally faced their challeneges.  It's tempting to see kids as "at-risk," but each of these students has reminded me that most students are actually resilient.  Does the perspective matter?  I want to believe it does.  Are these kids defined by being victims or by surviving?  I know I personally want to be defined by my successess and not my set-backs.  I want to be defined by who I am or even can be and not who I was.

So...have some chocolates and let me know how you want to be defined.  As you're thinking about this, please help a child in need.  It will change your life.