This week was rather uneventful, we didn't have any important SEAD events and nothing very dramatic happened in the lives of our students. However, that doesn't mean that the SEAD scholars didn't work hard and grow in many interesting ways. So, I would like to take this opportunity to write one thing that I've come to appreciate about each SEAD scholar in the past weeks.
Jade:
I appreciate how thoughtful Jade is about every topic in the world: education, religion, morality, Ashton Kutcher, whatever. She is also extremely articulate. The result of this combination of traits is that you can ask Jade a random question at anytime, and she will come up with a greatly entertaining and thought-provoking answer. For example, last week, I asked Jade about what she would do if she had complete control over her own education/learning experience and had all the resources in the world. Jade gave me an answer on the spot about how she believes that diversity in teaching method is extremely important, so she would have a lot more small group discussions and projects so that teachers can observe how students learn best and cater their instruction to these varied needs. When I work with Jade, I enjoy myself beyond the general satisfaction of creating a good rapport with a student: I also feel the genuine intellectual engagement of examining and sharpening ideas with a reflective mind.
Shae:
I appreciate Shae's strong ability to empathetically listen to those around her. No matter who you are, when Shae talks to you, she makes you feel like the most important person in the world and extremely comfortable with yourself. Shae has a special ability to make others feel that their perspectives are understood and appreciated. At Applebee's when we were on the verge of an argument because of a mix up in service, it was Shae who deescalated the situation by making everyone feel like they were heard. I know from personal experience how difficult it can be to consider the views and feelings of those around you during the teenage years, and I am all the more impressed by Shae's developed ability to do so.
Tati:
I really appreciate how Tati always has a clear idea of what she wants and what she needs to do to get it. Tati is very direct in her speech, and she is very good at analyzing a situation and coming up with action steps to meet her needs. She isn't afraid to ask for help, and she isn't afraid to check in on progress on action items. I find these to make her a great leader among her peers.
Katie:
I've appreciated from the beginning how open Katie is with her feelings, negative or positive. Katie is not one to brood silently or use back-handed methods. She makes her feelings clear quickly and boldly. These past two weeks, I have also been especially impressed at the efforts Katie are making to control and channel her feelings to best effect her actions. For example, Katie is now able to recognize that she is frustrated, express it in a constructive manner, and move towards a solution/action items to resolve the feelings. Awareness of our emotional states is a skill that shows great maturity, and I am so proud to see her developing it.
Wes:
I really appreciate Wes's positive attitude towards everything and everyone. He is always polite to all the adults at RHS, and he invariably smiles and says hi when we meet in the hallway. Wes also treats his school work seriously. He takes notes in class and often voluntarily gets help from the teachers. Not matter how much difficulty he might be having, Wes does not get angry or lash out. It always makes me smile to see Wes.
Cam:
Cam is what I would have to describe as sneakily sweet. On the surface, Cam seems so "cool": he's funny and banters around with all his classmates and teachers, he likes football and is not afraid to talk about it... However, a few things that Cam has done made me really appreciate how thoughtful and sweet is. (I hope he doesn't mind me cracking his persona here.) To name a few examples... Cam bought his math teacher a huge brownie for his birthday. Cam also voluntarily brought cookies and sodas to our movie event.
Until next week everyone!
Best,
Zan
