An Unexpected Shoutout Made My Week

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e classroom. She goes above and beyond in her help, assisting one of my kids with an emotional disability. Not only does she assist him, but other children in the classroom when they need help, as well.However, she worked with a contractual company where she was paid hourly. As such, she wasn’t getting paid during the pandemic. Since she and I correspond frequently, I wanted to check in and see how she was doing, and I sent her some financial assistance to help as her company wasn’t paying her.I didn’t think much of it. I have a rule for giving: pretend like it never happened. Walk away, disappear, because the transactional nature of “I’ll scratch my back if you scratch mine” is not very biblical and you’re not really being kind if you constantly talk about how kind you are. Additionally, you’re not generous if you’re constantly putting a spotlight on how generous you are and have strings attached to what you give. As such, I forgot about the gift and thought it was the least I could do to help out given how much my 1-on-1 had helped me throughout the year.I didn’t expect to get shouted out in this morning’s meeting. The radio host responded to me with a copy of the letter, to which I’ll include parts of while editing out personal information:<blockquote id="9a4d">“Dr. Kay,</blockquote><blockquote id="03a9">I am writing you to talk about the most amazing Special Education teacher I had the pleasure to work with this year. His name is Mr. Ryan Fan, and I work with him at a middle/high school. I am a one-on-one teacher in his class. I work with a company that is hired through the school that works with children with special needs. We d

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o not get paid as much as eachers but I love my job and still work every day. Right now, it’s hard because funds are not coming in and it’s a struggle. Mr. Fan has blessed me today by helping me and my family with some funds. I feel very blessed and wanted ot say thank you to him for all that he does. We need more people like him in this world.”</blockquote>Well, if this letter didn’t reinforce that there was some value to what I do every day, then I don’t know what will. The biggest blessings in life come in unexpected form, and this was one of them. I appreciate my guidance counselor for giving the shoutout, and of course to my 1-on-1 for writing the letter.I don’t want to ascribe any far-reaching morals and lessons that aren’t there, but focusing on the people within my community and school community during this pandemic is one of the most important things I’ve done. There are other ways to help even if that help doesn’t come in traditional form.That help looks very different for all of us. We are all called to serve in unique ways, and during a pandemic where we need to stay at home and quarantine, we can feel lost because that path isn’t so clear to us. Do what you’re called to do, and don’t feel like you can’t add any value to the world given the situation.One thing we can all do is give someone a shoutout. At the staff meetings where everyone is dozing off, give a shoutout. On social media, give a shoutout. Recognize another person for their good work and deeds, for how they inspire you and why you respect them. In a time of insanity-inducing isolation, maybe your shoutout, too, will make someone’s day.</article></body>

And showed me how I can make someone else’s week, too.

It was one of those virtual work meetings where I was daydreaming and thinking about all the work I had to do.

The meeting was about to wrap up, and then I was called out and mentioned by name. The guidance counselor at my school had heard a letter read about a gesture of help I made during a radio show. She mentioned that a parent was very thankful for my help and financial assistance, and most of the members on my staff applauded me and sent me messages.

The unexpected shoutout made my week. I have, like many of you, been in a rut. I haven’t been quite as productive as I’ve wanted to be, and the isolation is wearing on me, too. I felt flattered by the shoutout, and immediately after the meeting I went onto the archives of past shows on the radio station and tried to find the letter. I had trouble finding out which day and at what time it was read, and I reached out to the radio show host. She just messaged me back telling me what show it was, and I still can’t quite contain my awe and gratitude.

The context behind what I was shouted for was this: I reached out to a paraprofessional 1-on-1 that works with me in the classroom. She goes above and beyond in her help, assisting one of my kids with an emotional disability. Not only does she assist him, but other children in the classroom when they need help, as well.

However, she worked with a contractual company where she was paid hourly. As such, she wasn’t getting paid during the pandemic. Since she and I correspond frequently, I wanted to check in and see how she was doing, and I sent her some financial assistance to help as her company wasn’t paying her.

I didn’t think much of it. I have a rule for giving: pretend like it never happened. Walk away, disappear, because the transactional nature of “I’ll scratch my back if you scratch mine” is not very biblical and you’re not really being kind if you constantly talk about how kind you are. Additionally, you’re not generous if you’re constantly putting a spotlight on how generous you are and have strings attached to what you give. As such, I forgot about the gift and thought it was the least I could do to help out given how much my 1-on-1 had helped me throughout the year.

I didn’t expect to get shouted out in this morning’s meeting. The radio host responded to me with a copy of the letter, to which I’ll include parts of while editing out personal information:

“Dr. Kay,

I am writing you to talk about the most amazing Special Education teacher I had the pleasure to work with this year. His name is Mr. Ryan Fan, and I work with him at a middle/high school. I am a one-on-one teacher in his class. I work with a company that is hired through the school that works with children with special needs. We do not get paid as much as eachers but I love my job and still work every day. Right now, it’s hard because funds are not coming in and it’s a struggle. Mr. Fan has blessed me today by helping me and my family with some funds. I feel very blessed and wanted ot say thank you to him for all that he does. We need more people like him in this world.”

Well, if this letter didn’t reinforce that there was some value to what I do every day, then I don’t know what will. The biggest blessings in life come in unexpected form, and this was one of them. I appreciate my guidance counselor for giving the shoutout, and of course to my 1-on-1 for writing the letter.

I don’t want to ascribe any far-reaching morals and lessons that aren’t there, but focusing on the people within my community and school community during this pandemic is one of the most important things I’ve done. There are other ways to help even if that help doesn’t come in traditional form.

That help looks very different for all of us. We are all called to serve in unique ways, and during a pandemic where we need to stay at home and quarantine, we can feel lost because that path isn’t so clear to us. Do what you’re called to do, and don’t feel like you can’t add any value to the world given the situation.

One thing we can all do is give someone a shoutout. At the staff meetings where everyone is dozing off, give a shoutout. On social media, give a shoutout. Recognize another person for their good work and deeds, for how they inspire you and why you respect them. In a time of insanity-inducing isolation, maybe your shoutout, too, will make someone’s day.