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January 15, 2007
Make it Personal
What is the secret to being a good teacher? How do you make a lesson memorable? How do you impress upon others the importance of making a difference? You have to make it personal.
Funny story. January 15, 1971, I was in the first grade. My teacher announced that today was the birthday of a very important man. A man who believed that all people were created equal. A man who believed that all human beings deserved dignity and respect. A man who wasn't afraid to stand up and let others know what he believed. My teacher asked if anyone knew the name of this man. I confidently raised my hand and said, "Abraham Kleinberg, my grandfather." While that was technically true, it wasn't the answer she was looking for, and she went on to teach about the important things that Martin Luther King, Jr. fought and stood for.
Martin Luther King, Jr. did and said a great many memorable things for which he has been honored and we remember today. But, the part that I most admire is that he called for all people to take personal responsibility for the world's wrongs. Everything he wrote and spoke about is still relevant today, but none more than that. We are not just vessels to listen passively and accept what goes on, but instead we need to be active participants in making history. If everyone took personal responsibility for making a difference in his or her own little piece of the world, the world would be a better place. My grandfather was such a man, and in his memory, and in honor of Dr. King, I strive to live up to that ideal.
Posted by Michele at January 15, 2007 3:04 PM
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