Teaching Hope: Disillusionment

I just had to pick this entry to reflect on, not only because it was about cross-country running, but also about the importance of helping your students (particularly those who struggle in one area or another) find a niche in which they can shine.  For me, running has always been my greatest source of empowerment.  When I found running, my self-confidence boosted because I felt like I belonged somewhere, doing something I was good at, and contributing to a greater goal.  The teacher in this entry of Teaching Hope noticed that some of his students (including his son) were not being accepted onto any of the school’s contact sports teams, so rather than letting them give up on their athletic potential, he encouraged them to go out for the cross country team.  And, lo and behold, they turned into a group of exceptionally talented young runners—talented enough to win the Texas state championship meet.  This entry reminded me so much of that movie McFarland USA (a true story), in which a new coach turns a group of poverty-stricken, at-risk high school boys into a winning cross-country team.  The coach in the movie did the same thing as the teacher in this entry: he looked beyond the student/athlete’s shortcomings and instead looked towards their strengths.  He did not give up on them, and with dedication and persistence, he was able to help them find a source of empowerment and give them a chance to turn their lives around.  The teacher in this entry even notes that once the students found success on the cross-country course, their grades and social lives improved; I have heard many times that involvement in sports can boost grades.  Overall, the biggest take-away I got from this entry was to always look for opportunities to let your student’s shine, even if it takes some extra work.  If they can find one thing they are good at, chances are they will start to believe in themselves a little more in all areas of their lives.