DANCE!

So the bumper sticker encourages us to dance as though no one is watching!

Sounds so natural, well if you love to dance. But if you don’t, you take a twist at it and do it anyway….afterall, no one is watching!

Today I received an email from a former student who I had not been in touch with for about 3 years that I just wanted to share it with you….I hope they don’t mind me sharing, but how will they know! 

Any identifying information has been omitted and replaced with the words in brackets without compromising the content of the original email.

Hello [Yellow Bird] LOL

I surely hope you remember me!

You’ve run across my mind several times in the past months and I’ve decided it was time to reach out. Wishing you well; I’m sure nothing has changed and you’re doing great.

My younger brother D woke up in January of 2010 with lung cancer (he was a nonsmoker), and fought for 6 months until he lost his fight. It’s taken me a while, but I’ve regained the mental and emotional stability to continue on with my life. Dealing with loss, I’ve focused on all the other major ups and downs in my life and how I’ve arrived at this very point right now. I can’t help but think about being [so close to failing out of school] but focusing and graduating with [a degree]; my final semester I was only a handful of points from straight A’s! When I think about how different my life would be had I flunked out and remained out of school, I think of you every time.

I don’t know what it was way back in 2003 [when we first met]that made me stand out, but until the summer of 2008 when I finally graduated, you were more than [an instructor]. I never felt like you were just another adult that pushed me along. Your firm words and direct personality are just what I needed as I went from an outstanding high school student to a lazy undergrad. Without your real talk, your guidance, your help, I would have ended up on my mom’s couch thinking of how much better my life would be had I gotten out of bed for my 8am’s.

I needed to email you and thank you for being a big part of why I got back on track. After graduating with my [Bachelors Degree in $%$# and a minor in #$#$], I’ve done a little modeling, I’ve been at [major sports company] for 3 years doing live in-game statistics and analysis, and I’m now at [a Fortune 500 company] systems working my way up. I work 19 hours a day, 6 days a week and most importantly I’m happy. I know you’ve dealt with thousands of students over the years and by now, 3 years later, I may have become just another student (no disrespect), but to me you were never just another school employee. I’m working two jobs, supporting myself and my family during a trying time, moving up with promise of future success at two Fortune 500 companies, and getting into grad school to pursue a Master’s in School Counseling, and it all started with the multiple kicks in the pants you gave me during my 5 years in [location of school].

As I look back at the loss of my brother, my dear friend CS who died in a car accident last year, and 9 other loved ones in a span of just 9 months, God has turned my head in the direction of my many blessings. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your help in getting me where I am today.

Have a great day!

[Signed Former Student]

After reading this email, it brought a smile to my lips and warmth to my spirit.  Then I remember that though no one may see or understand the work that I do on a daily basis, I need to continue to be ME. Not to think about what I do when others are watching, but to do what I know I should do – all in the best interest of EACH INDIVIDUAL I encounter! To do so because it is fair, because it is right, because every person deserves my best so they can reach their own full potential. So I will dance, I will dance/teach/mentor/encourage/coach/train as though no one is looking and not looking for anything else in return but to develop the BEST in the person I am working with at that moment.