not my photograph…
Translated…
Still remembered the very first time I taught a class, your quiet had gotten my attention, in the midst of the rest of your classmates being so rowdy.
You’d always sat, quietly, at the back corner, finishing up the assignments for the day, without needing anybody to breathe down your neck; when there’s a problem you’d not known how to solve, you’d, sat and stared into space at your seat; and, as I’d asked you to redo all the questions you’d gotten wrong, you weren’t like the rest of your classmates, bargaining constantly with me. The teachers said, that you were easy to look after, that I’d not needed to pay any special attention to you at all, but, instead, I’d believed, that you, are the one, who needed more of the teachers’ attention, especially seeing how both your parents treated you, I truly believed that behind that quiet, well-behaved child, there’s a buildup of conflicts and that escalating sense of helplessness that you feel.
I’d tried sitting next to you, to strike up a conversation, at first, you’d only nodded, or shook your head as reply, and finally, after I’d helped you work out that hard-to-handle art assignment, the very first time, you’d, smiled at me. After that, I’d assigned you into the group activities, at first, you were, a bit flustered, not knowing what to do, but slowly, you’d gotten, involved, and worked with everybody around you, and even started, arguing with the student sitting next to you. I’d recalled how the very final day that I’d interned at the afterschool class, you were, especially, quiet, never said a single word to me, and, as I’d said goodbye to the rest of the class, I didn’t know where, you’d gone, to hide………
being ignored never feels good!
You, are probably, in your teenage years now, aren’t you? And, this stage of life, is probably, filled with trials for a child like you; for most, it’s not at all easy one bit. And I hope, that at this important turning point of your life, you can tap into your unseen potentials, and I hope, that you will keep on, smiling, and face the challenges that come your way with that bravery.
So, this, is probably a student who never got enough socialization at home, who’d become, too turned in, from the rest of the world, but this teacher was able to, get in touch of him, by being by his side, offering him her unconditional love and support that he’d probably not gotten, from his own family background, and, the teacher was able to reach out and touch this child, and this child became better adapted, and there’s still a very long way for him to go, but at least, he’d become, more involved with his classmates, and that just shows, that all it takes, is a show of a little care and concern from an adult, to change the life of a child…
Life, the Obstacle Course 