Yes, a negative can be a positive. Bette wasn’t trying to make trouble but her identity did not suit the teacher’s conventional perceptions. The conventional precepts in that to be a productive member of society means don’t colour outside the lines,follow the rules. Mark is right, Bette had the self confidence and determination to not believe her teacher.
Your comment reminds me of an incident when my mother was called to my brother David's school when he was in grade 1. His teacher said he was (her word, not mine) retarded because he only coloured and drew in black. His kindergarten teacher furiously stormed into the room insisting that you just had to understand how to approach him. David is a neuro-opthalmologist today.
I think we all have someone like this in our past, someone who seemed to defy us and who we were and where we wanted to go. I, too, had a teacher like this in middle school. She was a school counsellor back when we did aptitude tests and were told what we should grow up to be. We did not like each other. I knew she didn't understand my challenges and what was happening in my life. But I had to see her anyway. I wanted, with all my heart, to work in the medical field but she told me I was wrong, that it wasn't the field for me. To prove her wrong I graduated as a medical laboratory technologist and, after 1 & 1/2 years, had to accept she was right. What an awakening. I learned that everyone has wisdom but we can miss it when we get caught up in emotional responses. She had urged me to become a school counsellor, like her, and now, a lifetime later, I realize I would have loved it. Thankfully I diverted into a completely different field where I found success in my career but, oh, if only I had listened instead of hearing 🤣🤣 Good story, Dascha!
Thanks Laura! In addition to the difficulty of often thinking we know it all when we're young, there's also the problem of sorting the wheat from the chaff. Not all teachers or counselors have our best interests in mind, and even those who do, aren't always right.
Wonderful story. You have kept the heart of the prompt. Inspiration and motivation can come from negative or positive sources. Many of my successful goals have come from both sources. It’s essential that we believe in ourselves. Thank you. ❤️
Thank you, Srinath! I noticed the marathon and figured you were catching up. I'm so grateful that you go out of your way to do so. It warms my writerly heart! 🥰
Fortunately, Bette had the self-confidence and determination to not believe her teacher.
Sometimes our detractors galvanize us to action, instead of crushing our dreams!
Yes, a negative can be a positive. Bette wasn’t trying to make trouble but her identity did not suit the teacher’s conventional perceptions. The conventional precepts in that to be a productive member of society means don’t colour outside the lines,follow the rules. Mark is right, Bette had the self confidence and determination to not believe her teacher.
Your comment reminds me of an incident when my mother was called to my brother David's school when he was in grade 1. His teacher said he was (her word, not mine) retarded because he only coloured and drew in black. His kindergarten teacher furiously stormed into the room insisting that you just had to understand how to approach him. David is a neuro-opthalmologist today.
I think we all have someone like this in our past, someone who seemed to defy us and who we were and where we wanted to go. I, too, had a teacher like this in middle school. She was a school counsellor back when we did aptitude tests and were told what we should grow up to be. We did not like each other. I knew she didn't understand my challenges and what was happening in my life. But I had to see her anyway. I wanted, with all my heart, to work in the medical field but she told me I was wrong, that it wasn't the field for me. To prove her wrong I graduated as a medical laboratory technologist and, after 1 & 1/2 years, had to accept she was right. What an awakening. I learned that everyone has wisdom but we can miss it when we get caught up in emotional responses. She had urged me to become a school counsellor, like her, and now, a lifetime later, I realize I would have loved it. Thankfully I diverted into a completely different field where I found success in my career but, oh, if only I had listened instead of hearing 🤣🤣 Good story, Dascha!
Thanks Laura! In addition to the difficulty of often thinking we know it all when we're young, there's also the problem of sorting the wheat from the chaff. Not all teachers or counselors have our best interests in mind, and even those who do, aren't always right.
I agree, not all teachers have a positive effect on students.
Wonderful story. You have kept the heart of the prompt. Inspiration and motivation can come from negative or positive sources. Many of my successful goals have come from both sources. It’s essential that we believe in ourselves. Thank you. ❤️
I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Yes, not all forces that drive us are inherently positive.
Thank you, Srinath! I noticed the marathon and figured you were catching up. I'm so grateful that you go out of your way to do so. It warms my writerly heart! 🥰