It’s that time of the year – the time where we are barely holding on until the next break, when the horizon of summer is just visible. This is the time of the year that many people really begin to struggle. After coming through the aperture of the transition from winter to spring, we can usually feel hopeful that things will improve and get easier. In reality, this is the time of the year that is often most stressful for teachers and students. High stakes testing, the feeling of “how am I ever going to get through all this curriculum?”, and general malaise can bring overwhelming feelings of despair to all. It is essential that we think of what makes us feel most productive both at school and at home.
For me, that involves reflecting on past experiences with students who have truly left their mark in my career as an educator, but more importantly, on my heart. I can recall the first time I met Cohen (not his real name); I could practically feel his energy and enthusiasm for learning. It was during a summer school class that I got to know Cohen and his eagerness to think of things beyond his elementary years. He was philosophical, even as a young child, making us stop and think, to question the reason behind many tasks. There has been no other child who exuded, at least physically, the aura of GT more than Cohen. He was so intent on picking your brain, not to challenge your opinions or knowledge, but because he wanted to understand your perspective.
Another student, Ty (not his real name), was so amazingly kind, caring, and naturally high achieving. As is the case with many GT students, this is not to say that Ty was always successful in the school setting. To allow yourself to take a look at things through his lens was a wonderful experience. I spent a lot of time with Ty both in school and also in extracurricular activities. To this day, when I think of him, I remember him as an altruistic young man. During our last year together in the middle school setting, Ty traveled with a family member. When I returned to school after the much needed summer break, a little token was on my desk, one that is irreplaceable to me. Ty had brought back a small owl, knowing that I used them as inspiration for being known to be wise. This gesture assured me that even through the ups and downs that Ty had already faced, and would continue to face, that he mattered. He made sure he knew that I made an impact on him but his impact meant more to me.
These students bring to mind a well known poem, “The Star Thrower” by Loren Eiseley.
Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.
One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so he walked faster to catch up.
As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.
He came closer still and called out “Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?”
The young man paused, looked up, and replied “Throwing starfish into the ocean.”
“I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?” asked the somewhat startled wise man.
To this, the young man replied, “The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them in, they’ll die.”
Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, “But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can’t possibly make a difference!”
At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, “It made a difference for that one.”
The poem itself has a profound message, the difference someone can make in the lives of others can be life changing and life saving. You may not remember everyone who you have encountered, but knowing that you did make a difference to some, may be enough to get you through the rough patches in the year. The time I have spent with these remarkable individuals is what inspires me to continue my work advocating for, educating, and supporting gifted and talented students.
- Jessica Barrington, WATG Board Member
Editor’s Note: When WATG Board Members complete their dedicated service on the Board, they are given a glass starfish as a token of appreciation for the students and families whom they have served while on the board. They truly make a difference in the lives of many, one at a time!
