Pride

Day 19:

I heard about a guy who speaks about a bucket.

To him a bucket is a metaphorical item.

It refers to a holding place. A place where ideas and emotions are contained for fermentation. A place where growth and maturity occurs.

Today’s lesson comes from my bucket.

The other day a former student of mine came to me concerned. She shared a story where she had been caught ‘cheating’. According to her current teacher, she had shared some notes with a classmate during an open notes test; during a test where students were to use their own notes.

According the directive, she committed a violation. Therefore, her test was taken from her and she earned only 50%.

Upon this incident, she came to me seeking some advice.

Knowing who she is and what is stands for, I told her it sounded like she had committed a lapse in judgment. I advised her to go to her teacher and confess the lapse and assure him that such an occurrence would not happen again.

She was resistant at first.

Yesterday she came to me to tell me that she followed my advice.

She went to say that her effort was well received and that she felt good for doing so. I was proud of her.

Here’s what I learned.

Upon reflection of this conversation today, I learned that I needed to have told her that I was proud of her.

Today I learned that there will be times in my life where people will, for some unknown reason, come to me seeking advice. And if what I give is honorable and good, and if they follow it, then I need to acknowledge it, in the moment.

Today I learned that I need to be better at encouraging people.

In my young life I have been encouraged beyond my greatest expectation – the least I can do is pass it on.

If you’re reading, in the event we do not meet in the near future, well done….I’m proud of you.

Mr. J.C. León