Waiting for Superman

We could be waiting forever. If you haven't watched the film "Waiting for Superman," I encourage you to do so- and don't forget a BOX of Kleenex if you're a crier like me :) This is week one of training for my new job called AdviseTX! I will write more on that later, but right now I am just overflowing with sentiments about this film. It opened my eyes, inspired, compelled, broke, and deeply deeply moved me.

The film basically outlines the lives of elementary age students in low income areas around the US and the kind of education they are getting, or not getting for that matter. They showed Charter schools, public schools, private schools, etc. But this is not what hit me. It was the heart displayed in the film.

The parents/guardians:

Several different children were spotlighted and followed throughout a year or so of their education process. One particular mom worked, but she did not just work to meet her own needs, her primary purpose was to assure that her child got to attend school, school that cost $500/month, which is a small fortune when you live the way these do. Her passion and the heartbreak that was displayed was absolutely incredible. A grandmother, forced to be mom because of the death of her son, expressed her deep passion and support for her child by doing what she could to make sure her "son" could go to a boarding school. You wanna know what she could do? Sit there, enter his name in a drawing, and hope for the best. Seeing him go off to boarding school would be hard, but she knew that it would be worth it. This story is one that broke my heart the most, and if you watch the movie, you will know why. (And then we can talk about it!)

The children:

They want to learn. They want to live lives better than the ones they are living now. They want to do better for themselves now, at 8, in order to help their future children. They want to become doctors so that they can help people. They cry when they do not get to attend a kindergarten graduation ceremony with their classmates because they know their mother could not meet the tuition payment. They see little chance for themselves compared to others, but they are not letting that get in their way! They are pushing through those barriers! It was inspiring.

I could talk about the teachers, but at the moment I am still a little bitter and conflicted towards them. This film made me extremely thankful for the education that I received in my small 700 person town. Our school has very little funding, but I was extremely blessed with teachers that wanted me to learn; that didn't just give me a worksheet so that they got out of teaching; they didn't sit and read the newspaper while our class went crazy or slept. They wouldn't put up with that. I am sure that there are others who feel differently about my school, but that is where the conflict comes in. Some kids genuinely have no desire to learn which affects their outcome in class. Some teachers do not teach, which affects the student's desire to learn. Some students have so much going on outside of school that it is physically and mentally impossible to come to school and learn. This too is an entirely new issue.

Well, I could go on and on. My heart broke for the children. Seeing 35 spots in a charter school with 700 applicants standing by to see if their name was randomly drawn out of a hat, was one of the hardest things to watch. My heart broke for the selfishness of the teachers. My heart broke for the sacrifice of the parents.

This movie compelled me. I wanted to go get as much money as possible and give it to that mother so her little girl could attend her graduation ceremony. I am extremely excited to move to Beaumont! I want to see the beautiful faces of the students! I hope to make every moment count. My time with the students will fly by. Being given the opportunity to make a difference that could affect generations, is priceless.

Think about the way that you are making a difference in the lives of others, your family, your friends, the person checking you out or behind you in line at the grocery store. People are watching you. You could be the superman they are waiting for. Let your life count!