The Strength of Weak Ties

Everyone participates. Everyone contributes. Leveraging the power of digital networks to connect people, resources and ideas to drive creativity and innovation forward...and actually accomplish something!

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

For Christian

I guess that I'm envious of your decision to go back to teaching. I don't know if that was a hard decision for you or not, with the obvious success you've had in the business world. It is something that pops into my mind from time to time, but I'm not sure about it-not sure I'm quite ready yet. But what you are doing takes a great deal of guts and it's something to admire.

So, here are my thoughts about you and going back into the classroom. They are from the heart.

Your posts in Twitter reflect a nervousness, which is certainly to be expected. But after having met you, I know that your humor, the easy way you carry yourself, your confidence, and your love for kids will carry the day, so that when you stand in front of them again, they'll know that they've got a teacher.

You will now have more than one kid, and you get know them like your own, so when they come in not feeling well, or they come in after getting an A on a test in another class, you get to feel that, experience that, be a part of that.

You get to make that comment, that small touch on the shoulder, the slight smile when no one else is looking, to let that kid know you care, and be that person that might just make the slightest difference in a kid's life, that could be the biggest difference in that kid's life.

You get to look into the eyes of a kid, and know that two parents stare back, and that you are a partner in the growth and education of a child, and that those parents depend on you, seek answers from you, because you are the teacher, and that still means something.

You get to throw out your lesson plans, and sit down and talk with them, to see how they feel about life, what excites them, what scares them, what they want to do with their lives. And then you get to challenge them, assure them, and be a champion for them.

You get to look up from your desk 10 years from now, when that long forgotten student walks in with a smile, to say thank you for impacting their life, when you would have never thought that you did.

Congratulations on your decision. You'll be great.

tags: christianlong

5 Comments:

  • At 8:28 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

    WOW --
    what a wonderful post -- he will be blessed.

    Thanks for the comment about the eyes of the parent looking back -- WOW.

    JenW

     
  • At 2:15 PM , Blogger David said...

    Thanks for your comments, much appreciated. David

     
  • At 10:30 PM , Blogger Chris Lehmann said...

    Sharing this one with my new teachers on staff, David... just a wonderful, powerful, heartfelt piece.

    Thanks.

     
  • At 7:04 AM , Blogger David said...

    Chris, coming from you that means a lot. Thanks, much appreciated, Christian will be awesome!

     
  • At 12:45 PM , Blogger Kristin Hokanson said...

    Thanks David for recognizing one who will be amazing in the classroom...From As someone who follows Christian, it is not only HE who is blessed, but the students he will work with....
    My wish for MY OWN kids is that they have teachers like Christian, Brandon or Dan...that their principals are like Chris Lehmann...That there is a Jim Gates working as a tech mentor for their teachers or someone like Jeff Utecht directing instructional technology....what a school THAT would be, I can dream can't I?

     

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