Hope For The Future

11 Aug

“Let us remember: One book, one pen, one child and one teacher can change the world.”
~ Malala Yousafzai

This is a wonderful, magical time of year if one allows it to be.  School is a great opportunity to open minds to new concepts and realities.  School is a place to dream dreams and to make dreams happen.  It really does depend upon attitude.  The proper attitude must be embraced by all.

A student who returns to school with an “I dare you to teach me” attitude is going to be insufferable.  That student will miss out on so much that is being offered in the classroom by the teacher as well as by fellow classmates.

A teacher who returns to school with an “I dare you to cross the line and disobey the rules” attitude will be disliked by the students and will not have the opportunity to know the real student. The student, instead, will close down in the presence of such a teacher and the magic mix of fresh mind plus seasoned experience will never happen.

An administration and staff who return to school with an “Oh dear God, not another year” attitude will not see the need around them of either faculty or student and will not be able to provide for a well-rounded education.

“One book, one pen, one child and one teacher can change the world.”  I have seen that happen over and over again throughout the years.  There have been times when a student has come to school frightened of the new environment and afraid that he or she would not fit in.  Yet, because of the invitation of a teacher or fellow student, that person found a niche and began to excel.  I have seen many go on to do great things, becoming wonderful leaders in society and in their chosen fields.

I have, sadly, seen just the opposite.  A student — or teacher — might come to school and receive no challenge or support. The school year can turn into an interminable time of sadness and struggle.  No student or teacher should be left to feel unwanted and unsupported.  School is one of the times that we really get to remember and practice the fact that we are one family, responsible for one another.

When we share our burdens and sorrows as well as our triumphs and joys, we can become incredibly fulfilled.  Let the new school year that we all soon begin fill us with a sense of excitement and remind us of the opportunities that we have not only to develop ourselves but also to support and encourage others.  We are in this together and together we shall succeed.

FAITH ACTION:  Pray for all students, teachers, and staff as they return to school to begin the process of education for a new year that they may realize the promise that they hold for the future.