The Story Changes Everything

On my first day of lunch duty as a student teacher, I made a point to introduce myself to an assistant principal who was in the cafeteria.  I told him my name and  he asked me what university I was visiting from.  I smiled and said, “I’m a   Graduate student from UNC- Charlotte.  I’ll be student teaching this semester.”  He asked me what I had studied before deciding to  become a teacher.  I replied by saying, “History and Education.”  

It seems like that should’ve left you with a teaching   license already”. 

 I smiled again, “ Not quite, I cope with cerebral palsy, my pathway to teaching has been a little bit different.”  He looked at me and said, “ Well, Congratulations, I’m glad you’re here.”

  It’s a conversation I’ll never forget.    

 I decided long before Graduate school that I wanted to be a teacher.  Honestly, it is the only way I have ever envisioned    myself making an impact on the world.  The first blog I ever wrote was about understanding that my story mattered.  The older I get the more important  it is for me to share the story.   The story changes everything.   

Living with  a disability meant that from the very beginning my Mom heard  the phrase Julie will never be able to... an awful lot.    Mom always let the experts speak, but she always followed with questions of how they as experts were going to try.   My walking might be slow and awkward but saying, I couldn’t wasn’t an option until the doctors and physical therapist tried everything ---- walkers, leg braces, and surgeries.   I’ve walked up the 58 steps  of  Lincoln Memorial, through the streets of London (I did  a summer session  during college without my family), and on each one of my student teaching observations my professor notes, Julie circulates the room to monitor student understanding during independent work well.  This comment always amazes me.  Honestly, I started student teaching wondering if I would be able to stand in front of group of students to give lecture notes.  There’s always an empty desk in the front side of the room that I use to support myself but, I’m moving around comfortable and I never thought I’d be able to…

Walking around the classroom is only significant after I reflect on the first time a teacher told me that my learning disabilities would prevent me from attending a four year university.  It’s a comment that my Mom wished the teacher never made because it made me more determined then ever. I never thought I’d be able to. …. Go to college and in a few weeks, I will have completed two university programs successfully!

 Last week, my students were working on group projects.  My cooperating teacher left me with the most uplifting feedback of the semester.  “ You’re persistent about keeping students on task. You ask questions, you haven’t given up on them working successful in groups.” His remarks went straight to my heart.  Asking questions, being persistent, and having a strong group of people who believe I am able is what has made me a success.   It's why I'm almost a teacher!

The story changes everything! We are beating the odds together and  it's amazing!

Breaking Through Brick Walls

 If my students learn nothing else from me all semester, I want them to remember that perseverance matters more than perfection.  This week was by far the BEST week yet.  I’m trying to relearn the significance of perseverance as I teach it to my students. 

This week we started a unit on the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution.   There are major challenges to building a nation that’s founded on equality. (This concept is still true.)  In an attempt to see the complexity of building a nation we analyzed one of the Federalist Papers this week.  Analyzing documents forces students to think critically.  More often than not, they get overwhelmed by the number of pages in the document and insist, “Miss Lang, I can’t finish.”      In response to their worry, I replied by saying, “The only way you’ll ever get anywhere in life is if you try your very best! All I need you to do is try. “  

I went into education because I believe that young people are leaders who have a major impact in our world.  I try to encourage them with comments about character and making a difference each day.   On most days, I’m doubtful that students take this lesson with them but character education was the greatest gift I was ever given as a student.    This week I knew that a student heard my advice even if she didn’t listen to it.   She said,  “Miss Lang, that sounds like an inspirational message from the lid of a Snapple bottle.  I smiled and let her get back to work.       Her remark let me know that I'm at least starting to achieve my goal as teacher.... INSPIRE  OTHERS!

As I reflect on this week, I realize that there have been so many times when I almost quit on this journey.  Even if you have the best cooperating teacher it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the responsibilities of teaching--- with or without cerebral palsy.    Giving those words of encouragement to my students helped me remember, that trying my best has gotten me to this point.  

On Friday, I started class with, I’m glad you’re here.   Before we start decide if you need to get motivated or stay motivated and make this class your starting point.   My class erupted  in a light laughter because they were tired but in that moment, I gave them one option and that was to try!  

The author of   The Last Lecture writes,   “Brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something” I broke though a brick wall!  At  least a few students are starting to understand that I believe in their potential.  

Breathe deeply and remember that perseverance matters more than perfection. Stay inspired!

Stronger

Student teaching is probably one of the most difficult obstacles I have encountered.    It’s a job where   I’m more often critiqued than complimented.  I’m building my creditability, but the students don’t trust or respect me yet.  Moreover, they know their teacher will return.  It’s a challenge to convey to them and many of the teachers in the building how much I care about young people as leaders. If only they knew that  (Student) teaching was so much more than a job for me ---- It’s a dream come true for a young woman with cerebral palsy!

A few weeks ago, I went to borrow markers from the creative writing teacher down the hall.   In light of recent events in our city, students were having a conversation about their fears, vulnerabilities, and the challenges of being accepted.  I was surprised by how comfortable students were to share on this topic.   On the other hand, this teacher constantly listens and invests in the stories of young people.  She firmly believes   that students matter and wants them to know.   For her, it seems to be the only way that creative writing class really works.   For me, investing in the stories of young people is less about teaching and more about valuing those who might not know how special they are.   It says, so much about who this teacher is as a person and why she inspires me so much.  In fact, I was so captivated by the comfort in the room that instead of finishing my lunch I found a seat and stayed to listen.

 A young girl raised her hand to share her story about coping with cerebral palsy and other challenges.   The way the student shared moved my heart. I needed her to know that she wasn’t alone.    She was strong, brave, and able even if most of the world didn’t understand her story.  So, I wrote her a note to let her know just that.

Later that day, her teacher delivered a note that the student had written to me.  The first line of the note read, “ Stronger it’s what we are!” I almost cried.  The young person I hoped to inspire has inspired me!  I read that note each day as a reminder of what I’ve overcome!

Navigating the world with a disability is tough. I teach because I’ve committed myself to living a life of compassion and perseverance.   March is cerebral palsy awareness month.  In celebration of overcoming obstacles, find strength in your story and comfort those who feel they aren’t strong enough to face adversity. We are stronger together!

The  front of the card the student wrote is so BEAUTIFUL I had to share!  She drew that!

This is what I've learned , Everybody is talented , original, and has something important to say." Brenda Leland