Last year, I received a note from a student.
It was a student I knew was struggling with some home issues, and it had leaked over into her school work.
The usual, joyful student who showed up every day and worked hard to succeed in a difficult class was waning.
The energy wasn’t there.
The positivity lost.
And, (least importantly), her grades were slipping.
I had pulled her aside and we’d had a chat a few days before. I told her to keep her head up, let me know if she needed anything, and keep doing her best.
And (apparently) one more thing: that I was proud of her.
I didn’t remember saying that, but it was true; I was proud of her.
I was proud of how, through all her personal struggles, she still showed up every day and did her best, fighting through the pain and struggle of a home falling apart.
And she reminded me of this in her note.
In fact, she wrote, that those words were all she was looking for.
She wanted to know that someone — anyone — was proud of her.
I thought a lot about that and the impact of those words.
How often do we say that we’re proud of the effort our students put in? Of who they’re becoming as people? Of what they stand for (or stand out for)?
If you tell your students just one thing this year, tell them this: That you’re proud of them.
This year, the goal of every educator should be to get to know each and every student on an individual level. To know the hurts and pains, but also the strengths and successes of each student.
And when the moment is right, when that student needs to hear it the most, a simple, “I’m proud of you,” will make all the difference.