Dear Wellness Wednesday Readers,
As I was pouring through old Wellness Wednesday writings that our partner Paul wrote, one struck me in particular. I am sharing that one with you today.
Enjoy,
Kevin Brennan
Director, Top 20 Training
651-373-0297
kevin@top20training.com
I’ve always been inspired by Anne Sullivan, the teacher of Helen Keller. Recently I learned more about the overwhelming challenges she experienced in her young life:
• At the age of 5 she contracted trachoma which left her partially blind and without reading or writing skills
• At 8 her mother died of tuberculosis
• At 10 her father abandoned Anne and her siblings
• She had two unsuccessful eye surgeries
• At 12 she was housed with single mothers and unmarried pregnant women
Upon graduating from Perkins School for the Blind as valedictorian, Anne addressed her classmates, “Duty bids us go forth into active life. Let us go cheerfully, hopefully, and earnestly, and set ourselves to find our especial part.”
Anne certainly fulfilled her ‘especial part’ as she nurtured and brought forth the incredible gifts of Helen. But what if Helen never had Anne for her teacher? What if Helen, what if our students, and what if we have a power inside ourselves to do significant things, but never are aware of that power? Anne’s influence on Helen reminded me that as educators we are in the business of power awareness. Our ‘especial part’ is to help students become aware of power that resides within themselves.
The word ‘education’ comes from the Latin word ‘educere’, which means ‘to draw out’. Anne was in the power awareness business and drew out the power that resided in her students.
During these upcoming days, take a moment to identify:
1. Who has been your Anne Sullivan?
2. Who needs you to be their Anne Sullivan?
Like you, Top 20 Training is in the power awareness business. We are committed to helping students and adults become aware of the power that resides within them to develop their potential and become all they are capable of becoming.
-Paul Bernabei
And All the best to you and yours from our Top 20 team,…Willow Sweeney, Tom Cody, and Kevin Brennan.
