Want to Make a Difference? Listen

Adults who listen teach compassion, support and strength to impact positive change

When I began college, I majored in counseling because I wanted to make a difference. A professor talked me out of this area of study saying I was too emotional. She believed dealing with others’ problems everyday would burn me out. Apparently, I was too sensitive so I changed my major to education thinking teaching English would be less stressful.

I realize how wrong she was! The professor forgot emotions are the impetus to make compassionate decisions. If anyone can survive the stress of teaching and remain sensitive to the children’s needs, they become counselors in the classroom. Teachers teach students, not subjects. Now, in retirement I realize my passion to make a difference provided the strength to support thousands of students. Every teacher impacts the future.

During my years working in public education, I observed human trials and celebrations that demonstrated the possibilities for humans to share pain and joy. I learned the art of being fully human demands we accept life with open arms and embrace whatever and whoever comes our way.

“To be fully human is really to discover who I am. And who am I? I’m a member of the huge human family, where we’re all brothers and sisters wherever we come from, whatever our culture, whatever our religion. We were born in weakness. We will grow. And we will die. So the story of each one of us is a story of accepting that we are fragile.” — Jean Vanier

In the beginning of my teaching career, I believed my job was to educate children. By the time I retired, I understood education is the process of learning to live life to the fullest while sharing love with others.

Every teen who entered my class had a story to tell which was great because I asked them to write stories. I discovered their real-life stories held more suspense, pain, and adventure than what I read in books. When I started chronicling their narratives, real life scenarios taught me to appreciate what teenagers have to say.

“I write because I don’t know what I think until I read what I say.” — Flannery O’Connor

Through the process of writing, students learned to understand themselves. Overtime I developed a mission not to simply teach students how to write but to show them the power behind the written word. As they began to use words to persuade others and tell their stories, I learned to appreciate the messages behind their words. With every story, I gained the understanding that youth are individuals who need to be heard. They shared how the past impacted them and how they will impact the future.

Reading brief stories of students’ lives increased my awareness of teens struggles and desires. Their scenarios provided knowledge beyond what was reported in the newspapers. Their accounts offered backstories to increase understanding of behaviors. If anyone desires to change the world or to make a difference, then listen to the youth.

Student forecast the future by sharing their present

These four articles allow readers a glimpse inside the experiences of teenagers. By sharing events as I witnessed them and providing verse from the students’ points of views, readers gain understanding and build compassion. Want to understand our world? Listen to America’s Youth.

When children are treated like garbage, they don’t realize their value

Inclusion of all students in education creates a world where all people learn acceptance

Be a light to the world so nobody walks in the dark

Positive interactions between people allow individuals to emerge from the mass of bodies

I remember walking the school halls in my youth. The memories still haunt me because those times when I stood surrounded by a mass of bodies were the times I felt most alone. When I walked the halls as an adult, I prayed my smile offered inspiration, a high five provided support, and a simple question shared I care.

Now, I hope these stories reveal the passion of the youth who are soon to be the adults running our world. Unless we embrace what the students have to say and ensure them, they are not a throw away generation, their stories and the lessons they teach will become lost.

Poetry comes from Locker’s Speak, a compilation of students’ thoughts and response to life experiences.