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Describe a recent time when you’ve been discouraged with a student’s progress. Have you witnessed a change in the student’s life, or are you still waiting for that change to occur?
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I have a student who used to be very respectful in the way she talked about her parents but over the first month of this year she has started openly mocking her parents’ rules and the things they tell her. We have been able to have some good conversations where she recognizes that she is not choosing what is good for her, but her heart is still very rebellious. I am praying for her and continuing to talk to her. The other day I had the opportunity to share a time recently when I felt similarly about authority and how I had to ask God to change my heart.
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There was a student who was just struggling a lot academically, and behaviorally challenging. He would oppose every authoritative figure, quick on the mouth, and somehow always involved himself and stir others in mischievous acts. Despite of the many opportunities given, people who were trying to reach out to him in many different approaches nothing seemed to work. One day, he told me about the physical and verbal abuse he had to face at home from his dad who is a notable Christian leader and it helped me to understand why he seemed to be angry at everyone. Over time however, the Head of School finally took him under his wings and slowly thing began to change.
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A few years ago I was teaching in public schools and had a fourth grade student in my music course. She was downcast and angry much of the time and generally very hard to reach. At the time, I did not realize all she was going through at home. Fast-forward two years: I am now teaching at a new Christian school in town, and she is one of my sixth grade students. She has recently been adopted by a lovely Christian couple who faithfully took her to church and enrolled her in our school. Prior to her sixth grade year, she was living in a chaotic non-Christian home with no Godly influence in her life. She is now in her third year with us and has grown so much in Christ. We are still dealing with issues here and there, of course, but the light in her eyes spreads joy to those around her. Christ in her is evident and infectious.
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I waiting for a few of my students to have light bulb moments- I hold strong to the truth it will happen eventually.
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I caught a student in a lie this year. Since then, he confessed to something I didn’t see him do, but he apologized and made it right before I even knew it happened.