In a world where we are constantly moving forward to the next level at school, university and in the workplace, it’s easy to let grades and figures consume us. However, where children are involved, it’s important to let them know that they are worth so much more than just a number on a page.
This is what one teacher in Indiana, US wanted to instil in her young students, ahead of a big exam.
In a letter to her third-graders (typically aged eight or nine), the teacher acknowledged all of the hard work put into exam prep, and she wished them all the best with the test – but there was a more important message that she wanted them to take from the experience.
“These tests do not define you. There are many ways of being smart. YOU are smart! YOU are enough! You are the light that brightens my day and the reason I am happy to come to work each day. So, in the midst of all these tests, remember that there is no way to ‘test’ all of the amazing and awesome things that make you, YOU!” wrote the teacher.
It was mum Abby Martin who shared a photo of the letter to Facebook, after her son Rylan revealed that the inspiring letter of encouragement had moved him to tears.
“He told me he cried because he was happy about a letter his teacher gave his class before they take ISTEP. Needless to say, when I read it, I cried too. We need not just more teachers like her, but also more people like her in this world,” said the overwhelmed mother.
We wholeheartedly agree with her. No matter what results they receive in the envelope, these students will go forward knowing that they are loved and appreciated for who they are – and that, in itself, is a major life success.
