Inspiration from a Ninth Grader

During a recent Seeing My Time Family Group Course session, it was pretty cool to hear a ninth grader say that he found it “inspirational” when students and parents shared their personal improvements with the group. He is a bright, quiet, very sweet guy.

The following week, he shared his most recent personal improvement. When he did, the room broke into applause for him and I had to fight the urge to run over to him, give him a hug, and kiss him on top of the head.

What did he say, you ask?

He told us that, for the first time since second grade, he had the courage to seek out a teacher and ask for help.

Did you get the significance of that??

He shared that his second-grade teacher had made him feel that he was not safe asking her for help. She had dismissed his request for help in such a way that ever since he has been afraid of his teachers. He couldn’t see them as helpful, only as a threat.

Woah…How many other students are struggling in the pain of confusion because they are afraid to ask for help from a teacher? In Seeing My Time, we teach a lot more than time management. Little miracles happen each week when I teach the group classes.

I love how everyone is inspired, including me.

Marydee

About the Author Marydee Sklar

Marydee Sklar is the president of Executive Functioning Success and the creator of the Seeing My Time Program® and the Set Up Success and Seeing My Time® planners. She is an educator and author of three books on executive functions, as well as a trainer and speaker. Marydee has more than twenty-five years of experience working with students and adults with executive function challenges.

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6 comments

Elizabeth M says March 8, 2016

YES! I got that. My 8th grade son does not have the skill to ask for help from his teacher either. I suspect it is b/c he does not TRUST them and b/c he works very hard at keeping his overwhelm to a minimum he can handle – which does NOT match the pace at school. Congratulations to this young scholar – asking for help with an ability to LOVE oneself no matter what the response is from the outside world will carry him ALL THE WAY to the top.

Marydee Sklar says March 8, 2016

Hi Elizabeth! Thanks for your comment. Tell your son to hang on! Perhaps the blog post would be an inspiration to him as well. He is doing a great job. Little by little!

Susie Roach Stewart says March 8, 2016

I loved reading about the 9th grade boy who asked for help for the first time since 2nd grade!! Thank you for writing about this Marydee. I am always excited and happy whenever my students ask any question and I strive to remember to say something like “What a good question..,,”, “Thank you for asking that question…” etc. I know I enjoy it when someone says that to me after ai ask a question 🙂

Marydee Sklar says March 8, 2016

Hi Susie, I’m so glad you found the post inspirational. I love your tips!

Rajan Mhatre says May 11, 2020

Thanks for the wonderful share. Your article has proved your hard work and experience you have got in this field. Brilliant. I love it reading.

Marydee Sklar says May 12, 2020

Rajan, Thank you for your kind words. I always learn so much from my clients, brave souls striving to reach their full potential. Little by little… be well.

Inspiration from a Ninth Grader

About the Author Marydee Sklar

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