"Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul, and sings the tune without the words, and never stops at all.” - Emily Dickinson
There was very sad news in the community over the weekend. A student where I used to teach died as a result of an overdose. That is sad in itself, but adding to the grief is the fact that this is the second son the parents have lost due to drugs. I did not know the student nor did I know the brother who died two years ago. But I know the students and the family's friends in the community are suffering greatly due to this loss.
I visited the Facebook page created in his memory and found the above quote posted from yet another one of my former students. She posted a narrative following the quote which was very appropriate for the situation. What struck me once again, not taking away from the grieving in this tragic situation, is that some of the literature that I taught to my students have stuck with them.
Emily Dickinson's poetry was difficult to teach. Some of the students just don't like poetry (I am sure that is not a surprising statement about high school students) or if they do, they don't like to admit it. But I really tried to show Emily's sensitivity in her writing and I tried to relate her words to their situations today. Granted *I* was the one who talked the most during the discussions, but often I would place the students in small groups with the idea of summarizing her thoughts into 'advice for now' type of passages. What they came up with was usually very good and full of insight into their lives.
When Cassie posted the quote, I had to smile. She knew Riley Hosptial for Children very well when she was young--she was a frequent patient there. She knows what it is like to 'hope' and how important it is to remember that it 'never stops at all.'
Once again, a passage of literature relating to real life.
I was very impressed by your blog and I am sorry for the parents who have had to deal with (2) tragic losses. I cannot imagine what someone contemplating suicide must think. What a permanent solution for a temporary problem. In our regional trauma center where I work, we have recently recieved a grant to address a public health problem within our community. For this grant, we have chosen to do a suicide prevention program because in Evansville, we have also had several sad examples of youth suicide (self inflicted shootings, hangings). It is my hope that this program will be a strong prevention program and that we many make a difference in those we serve with this course.
ReplyDeleteTo respond back to your blog, It really is neat to see the impression you had on the student who posted the literary response to the tragedy. Obviously, this student had a good understading of Dickinson and she made this a part of her only to recall this from her memory and to apply it in the most perfect of manner. Surely has to make you proud. I am an instructor in Emergency Medicine and it great to see my students perform so well in Emergency and Trauma cases. I often say I teach my students to take care of my own family if they were called to do so and with pride I can say that it is with most that I would have no problem with them responding if called. Educators have great influence over their students, even when they think they do not.