Different Stages of Learning: Stories and Connections

Different Stages of Learning: Stories and Connections

I ran into a young man named Corey who was once my elementary student in school.  He was glad to see that I didn’t look to old to recognize and that I had enough memory to remember who he was (funny).  He explained that I impacted him because I accepted his difference and helped him fit it.  He also said he loved the book I had introduced them to that year.

I read the class a story that was from a book too hard for them to have read on their own at the time (it was more middle or high school aged reading).  So I improvised and added my thoughts and reworded some points for their understanding as I went along.  They would sit and visualize the story happening in their mind.

Corey said he loved that story so much he found the book again in middle school and reread it.  He again read our story in high school and again in college.  Each time he got something different out of the story by remembering something he had forgotten or by picking up something new; depending on his background knowledge.  He plans to read the story again in a couple of years.

Just when you are about to give up on the education field because of the goofy changes, technical difficulties, and the ridiculous politics of having to do things a specific way (because all squares fit in a round box)… someone like Corey shows up in your life and you realize what a difference you made in someone’s world.

Things like that give you a new wind in your sails to carry-on, and something from in which you can learn. 

I had my feelings a little hurt the other day b/c my best friend/sissy had been talking about wanting to lose weight and getting healthier this year.  Nutrition was one of the tools Creator blessed me with so I felt sure I could help her, had been watching her, listening to her and was pretty sure I knew part of the issue.  People pay $200 dollars an hour to see a nutritionist and I give the information free… I was so pumped to help!

Laughing at it now (but not then), she said no thanks.  She knew her body better than anybody and knew what to do, she had lost weight before.  Usually people closest to you, especially family, you can never help because they are resistant for many reasons and have barriers from their past.  I understand that more than anyone from my psychology background but more importantly from my own experiences in life.

How does this connect to meeting Corey after all these years?

I was wrong for letting my little feelings get hurt by being disappointed in her rejecting my help.  Everyone doesn’t have to like our gifts or use our gifts… they might even decide to re-gift something we gave (smile)…

Where you are in you foundation of learning will determine the outcome of your thoughts, actions and reactions.  Just like that young man reading the same book at different levels of his life and picking up different things each time he heard or read the story.

To close someone off or shut a person down and not even listen to them is your loss, because you may be missing a good point or lesson, but that is okay because that is where you are in your level of growth. 

Listening and picking up the points you may not have heard before, or listening to hear something you may have forgotten is respecting the person and taking a chance in learning from it even though you thought you already knew it all.  That is why the elders tell and retell the same stories (which help the ones who listen, but helps the elder to retell it also).

What we do as beings in this human condition:  We listen, pay attention or observe, do, learn, and grow.

Thank you Corey!