Perspective & Point of View

A student walks into her high school math class, tardy again.

"Hi, teacher!"

Her athletic bag and back pack thud to the floor. She plops down in her seat, not assigned seat, but the one she has claimed - front and center.

The teacher smiles and continues with his introduction of the lesson.

Within minutes, she stands up. "I'll be right!" she says, cell phone in hand as she disappears out the door.

If you were the teacher, what would you do? What would you be feeling? 

About twenty minutes later she returns. The other students are now working on their assignments. Again, she plops down in her chosen space, turns around and chats with another student, interrupting his work.

Now what do you do? Many of us would be focusing on the lack of respect, or disregard of class rules, or her disruptive behavior. And in many situations, these would be appropriate responses.

The teacher talks with her about the lesson, summarizing what she had missed. Then, after a reminder that she should be doing her assigned work, the teacher goes to help another student. At the end of the class, she turns in her assignment - only partially completed.

How do you think the girl did in school today? Did she do well?

At the end of the day, the teacher is going through the all the students' homework and updating grades. When the teacher comes to the girl's assignment, he smiles. She has just made his day. Why?

On the back of the assignment, she has written the following:

When something bad happens, you have three choices. You can let it define you, let it destroy you or you can let it strengthen you.

Oh. I forgot one part of this story. That day, the girl had just become homeless. Again. She was looking for another place to stay for the night.

Perspective is powerful. When we can see and feel the world around us from more than one point of view, our lives are enriched immeasurably.

~Morgun