Yes Peter, you have me thinking again....
In his Edweek post, Peter DeWitt talked about reflecting on the people who influence us as we travel through this journey of life. We all have such people; family, friends, teachers, and acquaintances who inspire us through their words, their actions, their responses to us and to the world around them.
I've had quite a few people who have inspired me in my professional and personal lives. There was my Grandmother whose treasured book collection in her dining room most likely inspired my own. There was my aunt, the teacher and a professor, Burton Blatt, who showed me that all people had potential to lead inspiring lives. There were colleagues who took me around NYSRA conferences and showed me that teachers who thought "outside the box" had the potential to reach all children and assure learning for all. I've had students who struggled to learn to read and yet achieved great success in life becoming doctors, lawyers, police, moms and dads. They have inspired me with their tenacity and resilience. My sister-in-law showed me, by her example, how to raise strong and independent children. My own children inspire me to think about learning, living and loving in a far greater perspective than ever before.
All of us have the potential to inspire or to squash those in our paths by what we say and do every day. Wealth, education, and sports achievements do not assure that someone will be an inspiration to others. As Peter DeWitt notes, a child who is not at the top of his/her class in first, eighth or even during their senior year of high school may still lead a successful life and serve his family, peers and country as a productive citizen and perhaps even as an inspiration to many. We all have the potential to inspire.
Those of us who are teachers, parents, granparents, treasured auntie and uncles, coaches, leaders...often note: A hundred years from now, it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of home I lived in, or the kind of car I drove; What will matter is that the world will be different because I was important in the life of a child.
We might all hold onto a parallel perspective: A hundred years from now, it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of home I lived in, or the kind of car I drove; What will matter is that the world will be different because I was important to others.
Who are your role model?
I've had quite a few people who have inspired me in my professional and personal lives. There was my Grandmother whose treasured book collection in her dining room most likely inspired my own. There was my aunt, the teacher and a professor, Burton Blatt, who showed me that all people had potential to lead inspiring lives. There were colleagues who took me around NYSRA conferences and showed me that teachers who thought "outside the box" had the potential to reach all children and assure learning for all. I've had students who struggled to learn to read and yet achieved great success in life becoming doctors, lawyers, police, moms and dads. They have inspired me with their tenacity and resilience. My sister-in-law showed me, by her example, how to raise strong and independent children. My own children inspire me to think about learning, living and loving in a far greater perspective than ever before.
All of us have the potential to inspire or to squash those in our paths by what we say and do every day. Wealth, education, and sports achievements do not assure that someone will be an inspiration to others. As Peter DeWitt notes, a child who is not at the top of his/her class in first, eighth or even during their senior year of high school may still lead a successful life and serve his family, peers and country as a productive citizen and perhaps even as an inspiration to many. We all have the potential to inspire.
Those of us who are teachers, parents, granparents, treasured auntie and uncles, coaches, leaders...often note: A hundred years from now, it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of home I lived in, or the kind of car I drove; What will matter is that the world will be different because I was important in the life of a child.
We might all hold onto a parallel perspective: A hundred years from now, it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of home I lived in, or the kind of car I drove; What will matter is that the world will be different because I was important to others.
Who are your role model?
3 comments:
Very inspirational Anita!
I would say that my role models are colleagues with whom I work, fellow bloggers like you and others in the TWT community, my parents/in-laws, close friends and some great students who've inspired me to never give up on a kiddo-you never know the influence you'll have...
i sure agree with your list! The potential we each have to influence others is a big responsibility!
There are so many, but at the end of the day, they're mostly educators and family members.
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