Читать книгу Start With the Heart - Michelle L. Trujillo - Страница 32

I remember one student in particular, McKayla, an incredibly special young woman. She came to us as at the beginning of her senior year in high school. She had been homeless and had difficulty fitting in at the traditional high school. She was certain that she would not graduate unless she changed schools. From the moment she stepped on our campus, she worked diligently and kept her eye on graduation. And it paid off. As the year drew to a close, McKayla’s name rose to the top of the list as the graduating class’s valedictorian. I remember calling her into my office with another staff member who was a mentor to her. I was so excited to surprise her with the news and expected her to jump up and down with joy. Instead, she covered her face with her hands as tears rolled down her cheeks. Then she looked at us silently for a moment, her face red and filled with disbelief. She said, “I didn’t know I was smart.” Our response in unison was, “We did!” We all laughed and celebrated together, and McKayla finally believed.

There may be adults in our lives, too—colleagues, employees, or employers—who struggle with their confidence or sense of self. Paying someone a compliment or verbally recognizing a positive behavior or trait will help a person begin to acknowledge his or her own worth and feel valued by others. It will also open the door to positive communication and genuine connection.

Please take time to consider the 7 Keys to Connection and acknowledge at least one way in which you will make a concerted effort to connect with others in a meaningful way.

The 7 Keys to Connection

With students:

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With colleagues:

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With friends or family:

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With acquaintances or strangers:

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Available for download at resources.corwin.com/StartWithTheHeart

Copyright © 2019 by Corwin. All rights reserved. Reprinted from Start With the Heart: Igniting Hope in Schools Through Social and Emotional Learning by Michelle L. Trujillo. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin, www.corwin.com. Reproduction authorized for educational use by educators, local school sites, and/or noncommercial or nonprofit entities that have purchased the book.

When we sincerely connect with others, motivated by our desire to love human beings in a committed and intentional way, we light a spark that helps people begin to experience happiness and believe in themselves. This spark can ignite hope that leads to social, emotional, and academic development.