“Play On!”
Dear Teacher,
They did it yesterday!
The Birmingham-Southern College Panthers team, which represents the 1,300-student college in Birmingham, AL, advanced to the Division III College World Series with a 7-6 win over Denison University. The feat would be an impressive achievement for any team, of course, but was particularly meaningful for the Panthers.
Here's why:
Sickness: The day of their big playoff game, nine players woke up with food poisoning and one had to go to the hospital via ambulance. Yet, after IV fluids, THEY STILL PLAYED ON.
Fighting: Not only that, but Birmingham-Southern College, a private liberal arts college, founded in 1856, recently learned that their two-year fight to restore endowment funding through a $30 million loan did not pass in Alabama State House legislation. Yet, THEY STILL PLAYED ON.
Tough Decisions: On top of that, knowing that the college was no longer financially viable, the Executive Committee unanimously voted that it must close on May 31st due to financial difficulties. Yet, even though their school will no longer exist as an institution at the time of the World Championship, THEY STILL PLAY ON.
In it all, the Panthers were courageous, impressive, and amazing representatives of their school!
And you, teacher, there in your classroom, are likely counting your wins and losses for the 2023-2024 school year. Amidst the rubble of end-of-year parties, graduations, and Move-Ups, you recognize that this feat would be an impressive achievement for any teacher, of course, but it's particularly meaningful for you. Here's why:
Sickness: Every weekday morning, you woke up and assessed your own abilities. Am I sick? Can I push through? How's my mental health? Do I need to take a personal day? Are subs available? Yet, despite viruses, anxiety, fevers, depression, and surgeries, YOU STILL PLAYED ON.
Fighting: You've likely been battling it out at some level for a long time. Maybe it's been with the school board about the need for an aide. Perhaps it's with the Conference for the need for more support. It would be at the local level with a hostile parent. Possibly it's with the middle schoolers that disrespect your authority. Knowing that you were the underdog and that the battle was huge, YOU STILL PLAYED ON.
Tough Decisions: You've made many this year. Maybe it was to finally acknowledge that small school wasn't the right fit for a student with special needs, Perhaps it was that your school board had different values and goals than you. Possibly, (like me this year in a non-denominational school), it was to recognize that the drive to make a difference couldn't change a flawed institution. Despite the difficult choices you had to face, YOU STILL PLAYED ON.
Thank you for playing, Teacher. You've been courageous, impressive, and an amazing representative of your school!
Batting with you,
Mindy
Christian Educator & School Counselor