It happened again. A student came up to me after class and said, "I
thought you were a nice guy."
"I think I am," I answered. "What have I done to make you think I'm
not?"
"You're always in my face. Why?"
I calmly and quietly answered with a smile on my face and in my voice,
"Because I give a damn. And, I hope that you will. But, I'll ask you, 'Why
aren't you in your own face? Why do you accept excuses from yourself?' If
truth be told, I can be in your face until I'm red in the face. But, until
you're also in your own face, nothing will happen. So, I'm in your face hoping
that you will replace me to be in your own face. I can threaten and plead and
entice and support and encourage and believe and have faith and even love until
the cows come home, but only you can take the 'not' out of your 'cannot' and
kick yourself in your 'can.' Remember the words for the day we quickly
discussed yesterday? 'Effort and achievement can only occur in an environment
of expectation.' Whether that expectation is 'high' or 'low' will decide if
you ask yourself, 'What does he see in me that I don't.' Whether you will
start going for it or won't depends on your answer, not mine. Do you hear what
I'm saying?"
"Oh," he meekly said. And, then, unexpectedly, he hit me with a
broadside. "You know Dr. Schmier, you preach to each of us without being
preachy because you do it with how you act towards us rather than with your
lips. Thanks."
He left with a smile; he left me stunned. Lesson learned.
Make it a good day
-Louis-
Louis Schmier
http://www.therandomthoughts.edublogs.org
Department of History http://www.therandomthoughts.com
Valdosta State University
Valdosta, Georgia 31698 /\ /\ /\ /\
/\
(O) 229-333-5947 /^\\/ \/ \ /\/\__ / \ /
\
(C) 229-630-0821 / \/ \_ \/ / \/ /\/ / \
/\ \
//\/\/ /\ \__/__/_/\_\/
\_/__\ \
/\"If you want to climb
mountains,\ /\
_ / \ don't practice on mole
hills" - / \_
---
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