Dalton Sherman

It is so easy to lose track of our focus: of what we are here for.  Watching Dalton speak reminds me of the importance of my job each and every day.  I need to BELIEVE in my students, in my colleagues and in myself. 
I have had the privilege of teaching 3rd grade, 4th grade, reading and now kindergarten.  One of the most challenging aspects of kindergarten (and there are many!) is to get a clear picture of each child with little information from prior school experiences.  This is often their first experience in a structured setting.  At the beginning of the year, it is very overwhelming to quickly assess each child's strengths, weaknesses, fears, health concerns, etc.  Getting lost in the facts and diagnoses of the child, rather than the hope that lies within.  While listening to Dalton speak, I realized that I do believe in each on of my students; however, I want to be sure to communicate that to them. 

Each year, I find it refreshing to hear the Senior class president address the staff at the "Rah, Rah Day".  There is so much promise that lies in their speech.  I seem to sit up and take notice of what they have to say.  A message from a student's mouth is often direct, honest, hopeful, humorous with a small touch of teenage spunk :) No matter how the message is delivered, the message is often the same: Believe in us and we will believe in you.  Some times it just takes one person believing in your ABILITIES to help push you into giving it a try.  Someone focusing on your ABILITIES rather than knocking you down for your disabilities.  We all have disabilities and rather than focusing on what we can not do (which we are already aware of), we need to focus on our own strengths.  Start with ourselves.  What are our abilities?  Do we believe in ourselves?  What are our colleagues' strengths?  Do we believe in them?  What are our students' strengths?  Do we believe they can achieve?

Dalton briefly spoke of the multi-generational effect we can have when we believe in our students today.  Although he was brief, this thought had never occurred to me.  We pass on to others what we have learned.  When we empower young people, the path they chose in life can be changed.  It will lead them to their future and what will they do with it?  Will we have made an impact that can ripple down to their children or other lives they may touch?  I have never taken time to see the even bigger picture and impact we can have in our world.  I am inspired to bring my best to my class of 21.

One of the most moving moments to me, was as Dalton's speech came to a close and the applause picked up, his teacher (?) leaned in and said, "I'm proud of you, man."  A teacher's job is never over.  It is not our job to be boisterous or flashy, but to simply let each child know that they are loved and that we believe in them.