Promise, Possibility and Potential
By Dr. Marcia Davis-Dawkins
Recently, I had the opportunity to read to students at a rural elementary school in Jamaica. These students are unprivileged by conventional standards, in that they have very little in terms of food, clothing, electricity, internet, books, cars, exotic toys, or roads, among other hindrances. Meeting them was a privilege and it bouyed my spirit since the reason for my trip there was necessitated by the loss of a beloved friend. My sadness was soon transformed to happiness when I realized that my visit brought excitement and pleasure to the students.
As I read to these children, I thought about how eager they were to please. They immediately stood and simultaneously greeted me with an amazingly bright and thunderous “Good morning, Ms. Dawkins!” To top it off, they blew kisses to show their spirit. The sadness I had entered the room with was replaced by joy. I wanted to spend the whole day there. I felt there was so much possibility, promise and potential in that room. The goodness within them was permeating through me. Even though they had very little, they could achieve whatever they wanted in life. Nothing seemed to be able to paralyze them with doubt.
I thought about how the teachers are given the opportunity to help them build their confidence and their capabilities. Of course, there will be days when those students or teachers are down, based on their physical situation. Sometimes it just seems easier to live in the world you’re given than expend the energy and resolve necessary to explore the power one has to change. However, the teachers are there to encourage and motivate each other. They are there to remind each other that their leadership can unlock people’s potential. As teachers, we realize that leaving potential untapped is the difference between where a person is now and where he or she can ultimately be.
I thought about how some of us take things for granted and yet these students work with so little and still seem to excel because they are driven internally and want to get better. Some of us are more fortunate than others and yet others simply need encouragement. Light bulbs went on after I read to these students and realized how much they wanted help and craved knowledge. I wanted to be a part of their growth, I wanted to help them shine and read more to them. I wanted to bring out their potential, to awake their passion because I saw the promises and the possibilities. Many may say that what I saw on my visit was insignificant, but I beg to differ. It really struck a chord in my music of life. I fervently want to do more, show them love, provide them with simple material things, and bring out more “good” in them. I figure that the more love they have, the more they will grow, learn and build. What touched me is what so often happens: the students become the teachers. I learned from my visit. They “schooled” me with their voracious spirits and zealous appetites for education. I know that I will no doubt learn more from them and I won’t have to worry about my accomplishments, whether big or small. I am convinced that their potential is not limited to their physical location or their lack of material things.I know because I started off in that same location and over the years I became more confident and progressive. With me helping, my confidence will grow more, even when I am not aware of the growth. Part of my motto has always been, if I can help one person/student in life, then my life is meaningful. I want every student to discover his or her passion and invite it forth. I resolve that my journey of a thousand steps will be to elicit the promise, possibility and potential in these students!!!!
