To Haseeb

I received these comments from one of my students on my "Dear Santa" post. After I responded to him something told me to make it a post unto itself. Although my own mother told me I should be training men in the marines and not children in elementary, this is about love.

Love, real love, can be very powerful; so powerful that IT CAN conquer ALL obstacles. I have had to learn though, from painful and repeated experience, that it takes love from both involved for any relationship to work (I can be a slow learner sometimes, which means if I can learn this, anybody can. Now that I did this while suffering from another concussion from my latest motorcycle accident, none of you have any good excuse).

Love, real love, is a special and truly rare emotion, but only soars within a poet's heart when shared equally between two hearts, minds and souls. It's a committed relationship.

In the student-teacher relationship, it takes the teacher to continue to see the student for everything they could be, should be, and will be, no matter how far away the goal is, or how uncomfortable or impatient it makes you feel in the process. But no matter how hard you try, if the student doesn't believe in and have this love for him or herself, all your efforts will be for naught. There will be no healthy and powerful relationship in the end.

The same can be said for any relationship; parent-child, man-woman, friend-friend, etc. Sometimes the warrior stands alone, and sometimes he or she doesn't. This is a snippet of a real-life, in-process story of two people standing together.

haseeb said...
I dont know if you believe in me but I dream big about myself. And that is all I need for me to be big.

12/07/2006 06:11:36 PM


haseeb said...
When you said in class that I spend to much time trying to be in pictures I was hating you and thinking that i want to transfer to another class at that time but I have been thinking that yes I do waste my time trying to be in pictures. So I have decided that I will learn more and spend less time wasting it.I think like the way you are teaching I wll be big. Also do not think that you are being too hard on us

haseeb

12/07/2006 06:18:51 PM


haseeb said...
just another chance please

12/07/2006 06:20:10 PM


Adam Stuart said...
Although you did well on the test, it was nowhere near your best. If you're capable of more, it's my job to (1) help you see that and (2)help you get there.

I will never give up on you. You know this every time I celebrate your victories and demand you get up after your defeats.

You're capable of greatness, and I won't let up until you realize it. We have 5 months to make you FEEL UNSTOPPABLE (which I think you do by the way you responded) and BE UNSTOPPABLE (which you aren't yet because you let a test you should have aced defeat you into average performance).

Since YOU ARE NOT AVERAGE, THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. I told you I'd teach you as if you were my own child. But if I find you have talent and/or I like who you are, I'll be available to you forever.

Both have happened. You got me for a lifetime.

12/12/2006 01:33:46 PM