Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Perspective Change
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I went with a group of high students to an indoor high ropes course today. The students are from the school at which I have been interning this year, and they are each dealing with serious mental and behavior health issues. The high ropes course is another opportunity for the students to practice and learn coping skills, peer support, and self-reflection.
I went with a group of high students to an indoor high ropes course today. The students are from the school at which I have been interning this year, and they are each dealing with serious mental and behavior health issues. The high ropes course is another opportunity for the students to practice and learn coping skills, peer support, and self-reflection.
The students climbed a ladder, about 30 feet into the air, and the first challenge was to walk across a beam, about 16 feet, to another platform. I was standing on the crowd, trying to offer encouragement. As one male student approached the beam, he said, "I can't do it! This is a nightmare! I can't wake up! I'm going to die!"
I shouted up at him, "It's ok! You'l be fine. Just don't look down; look straight ahead, and walk across."
"Just walk across."
It's just that easy right? Well yeah, for me, as I stand on the ground looking up. It really does seem just that easy.
A few minutes later, I had climbed the ladder and was standing on a platform 30 feet in the air, and I was faced with the challenge of walking across the beam. I was scared. I don't like heights. I had to really focus. I didn't want to fall, and I didn't want to test the strength of the safety harness I was wearing.
My perspective had changed. It wasn't so easy to "just walk across." It was actually really difficult!
When working with students, I often say things like, "Just go to class" or "Just give your homework a try" or "Just control your anger."
"Just control your anger" - It's just that simple, right?
Well, from my perspective, "on the ground," it seems that way. But from the perspective of the student, the challenge in front of them is something very difficult. It's hard to overcome. It takes focus, determination, and overcoming fears.
I was reminded today to keep in mind the power of a perspective change. Would it be so easy for me to "just go to class" if I was dealing with the same problems my students are dealing with?
I need to keep this perspective change in mind throughout my entire day, not just when I am helping students. Whether it is driving on the highway, talking with family members, or even strangers in the store, a perspective change is a powerful thing.
Ironically, I've been talking this week with students about "empathy," a good definition of which is simply "putting your self in another person's shoes."
A change of perspective. It's just that easy.
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1 comment:
Well said!! Thank you!!
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