When I was in my fourth year of teaching, I was also (and am still) a high school track and field coach.
When
I
was
in
my
fourth
year
of
teaching
,
I
was
also
(
and
am
still
)
a
high
school
track
and
field
coach
.
One year, I had a student, John, who entered my class when he was a junior.
One
year
,
I
had
a
student
,
John
,
who
entered
my
class
when
he
was
a
junior
.
John changed to our school from Greece, and seemed to be interested in athletics, so I encouraged him to join our track team.
John
changed
to
our
school
from
Greece
,
and
seemed
to
be
interested
in
athletics
,
so
I
encouraged
him
to
join
our
track
team
.
I explained to him that even though he had never taken part in it before, I did believe that he could do well in any event, and I would be willing to coach him at whichever ones interested him.
I
explained
to
him
that
even
though
he
had
never
taken
part
in
it
before
,
I
did
believe
that
he
could
do
well
in
any
event
,
and
I
would
be
willing
to
coach
him
at
whichever
ones
interested
him
.
He accepted the offer, and began to work hard at every practice.
He
accepted
the
offer
,
and
began
to
work
hard
at
every
practice
.
About a month later, I had found out from other sources that John was a first-class tennis player, winning various junior awards in his home country.
About
a
month
later
,
I
had
found
out
from
other
sources
that
John
was
a
first-class
tennis
player
,
winning
various
junior
awards
in
his
home
country
.
I went to him asking, "John, I really appreciate that you came out for the track team, but why didn't you play tennis instead?
I
went
to
him
asking
,
``
John
,
I
really
appreciate
that
you
came
out
for
the
track
team
,
but
why
did
n't
you
play
tennis
instead
?
It seems that would interest you a lot more, since you're so good at it."
It
seems
that
would
interest
you
a
lot
more
,
since
you
're
so
good
at
it
.
''
John answered, "Well, I like tennis, but you told me that you believed in me, and that you thought I could do well in track, so I wanted to try it for that reason."
John
answered
,
``
Well
,
I
like
tennis
,
but
you
told
me
that
you
believed
in
me
,
and
that
you
thought
I
could
do
well
in
track
,
so
I
wanted
to
try
it
for
that
reason
.
''
From then on, I often remember my student's reply.
From
then
on
,
I
often
remember
my
student
's
reply
.
I told it to a friend and she suggested I write it down to share somewhere with more teachers.
I
told
it
to
a
friend
and
she
suggested
I
write
it
down
to
share
somewhere
with
more
teachers
.
No matter how critical students can be of themselves, I've found that a simple "I trust that you can do it!"
No
matter
how
critical
students
can
be
of
themselves
,
I
've
found
that
a
simple
``
I
trust
that
you
can
do
it
!
''
can go a long way!
can
go
a
long
way
!
When I was in my fourth year of teaching, I was also (and am still) a high school track and field coach. One year, I had a student, John, who entered my class when he was a junior. John changed to our school from Greece, and seemed to be interested in athletics, so I encouraged him to join our track team. I explained to him that even though he had never taken part in it before, I did believe that he could do well in any event, and I would be willing to coach him at whichever ones interested him. He accepted the offer, and began to work hard at every practice.  About a month later, I had found out from other sources that John was a first-class tennis player, winning various junior awards in his home country. I went to him asking, "John, I really appreciate that you came out for the track team, but why didn't you play tennis instead? It seems that would interest you a lot more, since you're so good at it."  John answered, "Well, I like tennis, but you told me that you believed in me, and that you thought I could do well in track, so I wanted to try it for that reason."  From then on, I often remember my student's reply. I told it to a friend and she suggested I write it down to share somewhere with more teachers. No matter how critical students can be of themselves, I've found that a simple "I trust that you can do it!" can go a long way!