Many of my students sought comfort in returning to my class on the Monday after the shooting. They were frightened, shaken. I invited Grief and Trauma Specialist, Dr. Sally Karioth, to talk with my class on that first day. It was the beginning of their healing, and mine.
Most professors did not hold class. The administration allowed students to go home without penalty. But I showed up again on Wednesday. What if a student happened to be there? I grabbed copies of the Drayton poem from my desk as an afterthought. I rushed through the corridor to the elevator down three floors and leaned into the door to find my students at their desks waiting for my arrival. I asked each of them how they were feeling. They were shaken. They were feeling safer. This was the second school shooting for one student, who was in tears. One said she was fine. She had the thousand-yard stare. What would Sally say? I asked the class. They shrugged. I handed out the Drayton poem. I had exactly enough copies for each student. I read the poem. I asked another student to read it while each circled places in the poem that impacted them. They didn't have to understand it or analyze it. Each student told us what they had circled and why. The poem gets pretty metaphysical. It's hard to understand the concept of God and His presence. We realized the poem is about connection. The poet is not alone, but he is alone. He is trying to connect to God. The act of trying to connect with God, or with another human being, makes us Not alone.
Many of my students sought comfort in returning to my class on the Monday after the shooting. They were frightened, shaken. I invited Grief and Trauma Specialist, Dr. Sally Karioth, to talk with my class on that first day. It was the beginning of their healing, and mine.
Most professors did not hold class. The administration allowed students to go home without penalty. But I showed up again on Wednesday. What if a student happened to be there? I grabbed copies of the Drayton poem from my desk as an afterthought. I rushed through the corridor to the elevator down three floors and leaned into the door to find my students at their desks waiting for my arrival. I asked each of them how they were feeling. They were shaken. They were feeling safer. This was the second school shooting for one student, who was in tears. One said she was fine. She had the thousand-yard stare. What would Sally say? I asked the class. They shrugged. I handed out the Drayton poem. I had exactly enough copies for each student. I read the poem. I asked another student to read it while each circled places in the poem that impacted them. They didn't have to understand it or analyze it. Each student told us what they had circled and why. The poem gets pretty metaphysical. It's hard to understand the concept of God and His presence. We realized the poem is about connection. The poet is not alone, but he is alone. He is trying to connect to God. The act of trying to connect with God, or with another human being, makes us Not alone.
I’m proud of you!
Thank you!
This is so important, Cynie, and I’m so glad you showed up for your students. It takes heart .
Thanks, Brenda. ❤️