For a teacher, some of the most frustrating words to hear from a student are “I can’t do it” or, “It’s too hard for me” or, “I’m really bad at this!” Unfortunately, when a student does express such sentiments, it rarely seems to be effective for anyone—a teacher, classmate, or even a good friend of that student—to simply say “Yes, you can!”
I do know how it feels—to want to give up when facing a difficult task, to be disappointed in myself for not ‘getting it.’ Facing the uphill battle of overcoming a seemingly insurmountable challenge is daunting. Sometimes it just feels easier to wallow in self pity.
No matter how empathetic and determined you (the teacher) might be, understanding the challenges your student is facing doesn’t necessarily equip you with an ability to change a mind. You can’t just convince a resigned student to abandon their attitude of self-defeat and replace it with sense of personal empowerment.
No-one can truly comprehend all of the complex emotions and conditions that determine another’s attitude or perspective. But we can teach by example—by sharing some of the challenges we’ve had in our personal lives and by explaining how we’ve managed to conquer them. Perhaps even more importantly, we can share with them stories of our life events, relationships, and words that have inspired and motivated us .
For hope and inspiration, I like to look at the Julian 'Cannonball' Adderly poster that hangs above my piano. Its message of hope and joy diminishes my current-day blues — ”THINGS ARE GETTING BETTER”
I’m in awe of the faith and perseverance it must have taken to motivate Cannonball and the many other black musicians and artists who managed through hard times. They were driven to create beautiful music and art while living in a society that discriminated harshly against them. I can only imagine how challenging it must have been, to achieve such a high level of artistry…not to mention the other difficulties they were sure to have endured.
Cannonball’s positive outlook, expressed in his mid-twentieth-century jazz tune entitled “Things Are Getting Better,” offers inspiration for me in these challenging times. To put a little skip in your step, listen to this…and share it with your students:
—Susan
