A Farmer’s Son

“The NVIV (Next Vista Inspiring Video) series of posts are written by Rushton Hurley and designed to provide students and teachers with fascinating discussion prompts.”

In A Farmer’s Son, Rushton features Dado Banatao, He was the son of a farmer in the rural Philippines who grew up without shoes or access to electricity. Yet, his father encouraged him to keep learning because he wanted a better life for his son.

He gives the following prompts to accompany this video:

“How many times along the path of his story in the video can you count when he might have given up? Can you list the barriers that would have caused this?

Would he have been as successful if he hadn’t wanted to make a difference in the lives of others? Why or why not?”

When I watched this video, I’m was so amazed at his persistence. My parents always said that if there was a will, there was a way and if you wanted something bad enough, you won’t let anything stand in your way. Even though he faced obstacles and disappointments, he kept on working towards his goal. What a role model for all students!

Please check out the video and think of other prompts you might come up with. Please share.

Build Your Strength

"The NVIV (Next Vista Inspiring Video) series of posts are written by Rushton Hurley and designed to provide students and teachers with fascinating discussion prompts.”

In Build Your Strength, Rushton features an ad from a mail-order pharmacy in Germany. I love how it focuses on the man’s determination to reach his goal.

He gives the following prompts to accompany this video:

“The ad is from DocMorris, a German company that is listed as the largest mail-order pharmacy in Europe. Is this an effective ad for them? Why or why not?”

I love watching this man decide that it was possible to reach his goal and we saw through the changing of the seasons, that it took time but he didn’t give up. This would be such an inspirational video to show students. Even though their goals may seem impossible, if they keep trying and work towards their goal, they will eventually get there. I think it is also important to have some reminder of why they are working towards this goal. As I continue to work on losing weight, I have a photo of what I looked like at my goal weight years ago. I look at it every morning to help me have the willpower to do what I need to do.

Please check out the video and think of other prompts you might come up with. Please share.

Stinkin’ Thinkin’

In What Would Happen If You Weren't Successful On This Thing? From @DavidGeurin Blog, David Geurin asks,

“What would happen if you weren't successful on this one thing?”

I’m a worrier. I worry about the things I worry about. I can’t help myself. But that worrying can cause what I call - stinkin’ thinkin’ and it can put me into a state of paralysis.

I worry about what might happen and then I’m unable to act, in any way. I don’t act in a positive or negative way. I just am frozen. I want to do something, but I can’t.

For some reason, the hardest thing for me to do is to remember to think about what would happen if I’m not successful. I’m really trying hard to change my thinking so that I take risks. I know the risks may seem silly to you when you look at the things I’ve tried this year but for me, they were huge. I made the risks bigger than they should have been.

This is what I want my students to see. I want them to see that I made the obstacles in my mind bigger than they should have been.

I’ve always wanted to draw but I know I’m not good like my oldest sister is. My sister-in-law is a wonderful artist. I don’t want to draw anything big but I want to draw little things. So, I started to draw in my journal and when I started writing to my parents, I started to do some envelope art. Sometimes I have trouble getting started, but what will happen if I don’t succeed? I can just toss the paper. I haven’t even wasted time because it is good practice. I really like how some of my drawings have turned out.

I wanted to knit a sweater, but I kept putting it off. Finally, I made it and I love how it turned out. I love wearing it. But I had to remind myself that if I wasn’t successful, I would just have to rip out the yarn and use it for something else. I enjoy the act of knitting so the time I spent making it was relaxing. I feel this way every time I start knitting a new project and have to remind myself that the only thing that can happen is that I have to rip it out and start on something else.

I went to a faculty holiday party last week and I was so excited to go. Then when the time came, I didn’t want to go but I went anyway. I figured the worst thing would be to not see anyone I knew and have no one to talk to. I went anyway and saw some people I knew. I talked with many that I didn’t know so I guess it was a successful evening.

How do you help your students get over this stinkin’ thinkin’? Please share.

Photo by Jaredd Craig on Unsplash

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D is Determination

Determination can get you further than you ever imagined.

Small children learning to walk has to have determination to pull themselves up and attempt to walk. After falling many times, the child does not give up and is usually determined to eventually walk.

Small children become independent and are determined to do things themselves.

When I was in high school in New York, I was determined to go to Furman University in South Carolina. I knew my parents could not afford to send me to an out of state private university so I had to figure out how I would finance this. I was determined to go so I figured out that my grades needed to be high so I could get scholarships.

When I retired, I was determined to learn how to knit so I watched YouTube videos and joined a local knitting group. The people in my group are great support for encouraging me to do what I’m determined to do.

When I was growing up, my mother used to say, “Where there is a will, there is a way.” I truly believe that and have seen it happen.

Sometimes being determined also means knowing when to ask for help. It is hard for me to ask for help but if I really want to accomplish something, I have to swallow my pride and ask for help. Then I realize that if the end result is important, than I need to ask for help.

Determination doesn’t mean that you will automatically achieve what you want. This might mean that you need help along the way. Or it might mean that it may take longer than you hoped. Or it may mean that you don’t do it alone but may need to collaborate with others.

But determination means hope. And hope means that you don’t give up.  You are constantly looking for ways to accomplish your goal.

What are you determined to do? How will you accomplish it? Please share.