High School Drama
I watched a student of mine solve a Rubik's cube in a minute this afternoon.
I've been working on a mural since December, and though it's April and we've only just primed the walls, it's become about so much more than just a couple of gallons of paint.
Behind the rollers, behind the brushes, behind the trays and eggshell finish, are people with beautiful minds. Teenagers that have worked together for months planning and thinking, philosophizing and conjuring ideas, images and insights. We've sat around in my office for hours, grouping and regrouping, trying to create a wall that represents the great school community that we are a part of. I've sat and listened, in awe, of the wisdom they have and of the offers they've made, whether through spontaneous suggestion, jokes or thoughtfully written journals.
I can't believe anyone could every doubt them. I can't believe that anyone would ever try to tell them they're wrong or make them feel insignificant.
The theme of the mural is change. And as we all know, change can be scary. We may have the instinct to resist change, maybe we have difficulty sometimes picturing the outcome, because fear gets in the way, but we always have a choice to make in how we respond. The important thing to remember is how our choices may impact others. And to be very specific, how we as adults may influence the youth we are surrounded by in the face of change. Maybe you don't know it, but you just might be a hero in someone's eyes, and the words you speak may have a strong effect on them. Be aware of your words and those around you, when encountering change.
That being said, this mural has grown into a testament of perseverance. How it's so easy to feel crippled by people who don't understand or who don't want to change with you. How important it is to believe in yourself, your message and your community even though it may feel like a huge challenge, especially when you have people putting you down. It's about seeing the opportunities that life has to offer, and how every problem has a solution, just like a Rubik's cube.
I watched two students speak to a group of teachers and administrators this week, shedding light on our project and our message, and I've never felt prouder in my career.
It's taught me the power of positivity. Of perseverance. Of courage.
The walls may be painted in color in the near future, and eventually the painters will have moved on and graduated, but I can guarantee this will be an experience they will carry forever. And I know that this is a story worth telling.
TV on the Radio,
Katie
I've been working on a mural since December, and though it's April and we've only just primed the walls, it's become about so much more than just a couple of gallons of paint.
Behind the rollers, behind the brushes, behind the trays and eggshell finish, are people with beautiful minds. Teenagers that have worked together for months planning and thinking, philosophizing and conjuring ideas, images and insights. We've sat around in my office for hours, grouping and regrouping, trying to create a wall that represents the great school community that we are a part of. I've sat and listened, in awe, of the wisdom they have and of the offers they've made, whether through spontaneous suggestion, jokes or thoughtfully written journals.
I can't believe anyone could every doubt them. I can't believe that anyone would ever try to tell them they're wrong or make them feel insignificant.
The theme of the mural is change. And as we all know, change can be scary. We may have the instinct to resist change, maybe we have difficulty sometimes picturing the outcome, because fear gets in the way, but we always have a choice to make in how we respond. The important thing to remember is how our choices may impact others. And to be very specific, how we as adults may influence the youth we are surrounded by in the face of change. Maybe you don't know it, but you just might be a hero in someone's eyes, and the words you speak may have a strong effect on them. Be aware of your words and those around you, when encountering change.
That being said, this mural has grown into a testament of perseverance. How it's so easy to feel crippled by people who don't understand or who don't want to change with you. How important it is to believe in yourself, your message and your community even though it may feel like a huge challenge, especially when you have people putting you down. It's about seeing the opportunities that life has to offer, and how every problem has a solution, just like a Rubik's cube.
I watched two students speak to a group of teachers and administrators this week, shedding light on our project and our message, and I've never felt prouder in my career.
It's taught me the power of positivity. Of perseverance. Of courage.
The walls may be painted in color in the near future, and eventually the painters will have moved on and graduated, but I can guarantee this will be an experience they will carry forever. And I know that this is a story worth telling.
TV on the Radio,
Katie
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