On Friday, May 6th, 2016, Worthington Kilbourne High School hosted its 25th Annual Arts-In-Action. To summarize, this is an exciting tradition for our school family as we get to celebrate the importance of the arts in education during the traditional school day. Certainly, I could write several blogs about this day, but this blog is truly about one student who impacted me a great deal and it has taken me this long to sit down and blog about it. The fact that I am just now writing 45 days later has something to do with my crazy schedule as a high school principal but more to do with how I was going to share his impact on me as a principal, as a leader and as a person. So here it goes...
As a part of this special day of celebration, our school librarian hosts a "Poetry Slam" in the library and once again, I participated as a judge of this very special event.
Sidenote: If you have ever had the experience of poetry slam, you know that these presentations can vary from a more comical, light-hearted approach to a bit more serious and thought-provoking approach. These performances promote the performance and creation of poetry while cultivating literacy through spoken words and actions. These performances may also require audience participation, stimulate creativity, foster education, open minds, inspire mentoring and allow for students to be heard in a safe and cultivating environment.
As the Slam began, I continued to be impressed with the talent. The student performers were athletes, musicians, leaders, and sadly, students I did not know very well. "How can I serve a high school for 5 years now and not know these students?" One student in particular, Noah (who has given me permission to not only use his first name in this blog but also his last), has impacted my role as an educator and a person. Why? Because he is that student that I did not know well. I have seen Noah in our building and said, "Hi" upon occasion but had not ever reached out to him like I should have. His poetry slam was certainly the more serious and though-provoking type.
On that day, 45 days ago, I can still remember when Noah was called to the lectern to share his poem. Noah walked to the lectern with his head down and his shoulders slumped. He stood at the lectern, took a deep breath, paused and slowly started his read;
Phoenix
by Noah Bontrager
17 years.
17 years of pain, and terror, and misery.
17 years, of being unable to ask the teacher a question,
because you think you're the only one
who can't figure it out.
17 years of making your parents order food for you at restaurants,
because you're too scared to talk to the friendly waitress.
17 years of surrendering potential friendships
because you "know"
they're all going to think you're beyond weird
for reading a certain book,
or because you missed a step on the stairs.
None of them care.
you spend so much of your day
worrying about what other people think,
that you can't stop to think yourself.
They have their own problems,
their own thoughts.
They're too caught up in their own lives
to even mention your one, meaningless stumble.
Even if they do,
they'll forget tomorrow.
You know this can end.
But your life won't get any better
if you just go through the motions,
and wait until you're "ready."
You've been ready.
For 17 years,
you've been ready.
And yet you sit there,
telling yourself it'll eventually disappear,
when clearly, it only culminates,
while you push it aside,
saying; "I'll get over it this time."
Why then, do you continue to read off of this paper,
like you've never rehearsed it before?
It's time to change. (Noah aggressively throws the paper to the ground, lifts his head, arches his shoulders back and continues to speak...)
After 17 years,
17 years of pain, and terror, and misery,
you finally understand.
Stop hiding behind the label of social anxiety,
and using that as an excuse
to not try hard enough.
Gather up all the courage you can,
break away from your insecurity,
and strike it down hard, without hesitation,
so it can never hurt you again.
Take that frustrating fear and use it to fuel a fire,
one that will ignite an intrepid inferno,
consume your soul,
and burn that form of you in ashes.
Then, once you've amended your mix of emotions,
do what you've been vying to do
for 17 long years,
and rise,
like,
a phoenix.
When Noah completed his slam, the library full of students, teachers, staff and administration (us three judges included) was nothing but silent for what seemed like 5 minutes. But the roar of the crowd soon erupted and Noah's change in posture and smile on his face will be one in which I always remember. Students got out of their seats and gave Noah hugs, high fives and chest bumps. These students were some of the exact students Noah mentioned in his slam. Students he didn't know, students he surrendered as potential friends. All in all, students he did not have a relationship with while in high school.
Noah impacted me on this day for so many reasons. Most importantly, for the role I play in our high school as it pertains to Empathy: Culture and Climate. I have always said that relationships are the key to a successful school and while I still believe that, I realized even more after listening to Noah's heart just how important this is. We have to create opportunities in our schools for students to share their voice, to be heard by students and staff. We have so much to learn from our students. Students need to know that their knowledge, opinions and ideas are valued in all aspects of school. Never did I imagine that the hour I spent judging our Poetry Slam would have such a personal impact on me.
Be there for kids.....ALWAYS!
Be there for kids.....ALWAYS!
Noah,
Thank-you for having the courage to share your heart with others just 45 days ago. Thank-you for trusting in your peers and your teachers for allowing you to share in a safe environment. Thank-you for allowing me to share your story and thank-you for making me a better principal, a better leader and a better person.
#StrongerTogether
-Principal Adrean
