Goose Bump Moments
Source/Author: Adrianne Finley Odell, Assistant Head of School
April 28, 2017
Whenever I see people on stage or on the athletic field who are clearly reaching their highest levels of achievement, I get a bit emotional. Watching individuals achieve their goals after a great deal of effort and dedication inspires me. In fact, I get goose bumps.
I had a number of them last week when I saw the Shorecrest Theatre department’s production of “Les Misérables.” Watching students put their heart and soul into this performance left me in awe of their skill and their passion. It was clear that they were doing something they love. To achieve the level of excellence that they did took incredible dedication and commitment. As a result, many of them likely experienced significant breakthroughs-- reaching limits that they had never before reached. In addition to the exhaustion they likely all felt at the conclusion of their final performance last Saturday, they probably all felt a sense of exhilaration-- that they could do most anything they really set their minds to.
Goose bump moments can also happen when we are either witnesses to - or participants in - something we recognize as being extra special - extraordinary even. These goose bump moments inspire us and create emotional connections that are contagious. I had an inclination that these kind of goose bump moments happen regularly at Shorecrest, and this was confirmed through a simple email outreach to faculty to ask them to share some of theirs. Some of these are so striking, they deserved to be shared. Here is a sampling:
- “(Mine) was when the Class of 2016 came together on the football field and locked arms during the final moments of the Powder Puff Cheerleading competition on Class Color Day.”
- “(Observing) Eighth Graders teaching third Graders.”
- “Listening to Matt L’s singing voice in both last year and this year's Spring Musical gave me goose bumps… there's something about his, is it tenor?, voice that gets me every time.”
- “On the Middle School France immersion trip, the kids spend 4 nights in Lyon followed by 4 nights in Les Pennes Mirabeau, near Marseille. They stay with their pen pals' families. On the last night, we either have a dinner all together in a traditional restaurant (Lyon) or at school (Marseille). Even though we see so many breathtaking sites and landscapes during the trip, I have to say the best part is that last night where we get to witness the bond our students have created with their French friends in just four days. To see them laugh, share jokes and anecdotes in French (or try!), dance, or even cry when it's time to say goodbye is definitely a goose bump moment!”
- “(Shorecrest) sailors winning the National Championship.”
- “Right before winter break, seventh grade advisories do a Secret Santa gift exchange. One student took the time to write a letter to each of her fellow advisees in which she wrote what she liked in them. I am not talking about a five word note, but an actual letter (10-20 lines). Keep in mind we are talking about seventh grade... In my 15 years of teaching, I don't think I've ever seen anything like it.”
- “Hearing ‘This I Believe Speeches’ in (Mr. Seymour’s 10th grade) Class.”
- "Every time very young students present projects, I learn something new. A 40-something college graduate learning from a four or seven year old gives me goose bumps."
- “I had one student in thirrd grade (now in ninth) who came daily to see me to receive her medication or just to chat when she was stressed out. At one point, she started to say, "Bye mom" to me as she left the clinic, and if there were other students in the clinic you could see the confusion in their faces hearing her calling me mom. Some would dare to inquire if she really were my daughter. One time, there was a project share that she asked me to attend as her mom because her parents were not going to be there. I promised to attend since it was going to be held in a classroom across from the Clinic. Ten minutes before the time, my actual daughter came in the Clinic, clearly not feeling well. She needed to lie down and I told her that I would have to leave her to attend that student's presentation. Needless to say, she was not too happy with me, but I had given my ‘school daughter’ my word. Normally I would not leave a student alone but she was my own. Though I felt guilty leaving my own daughter who was sick, the fact that the student's face lit up when I came in to attend her presentation gave me goose bumps.”
- “I received an award this year based on an essay written by one of my former students. It has truly been a special surprise and moment for me this year.”
- “The Luminaria Walk at Relay For Life.”
- “I love Grandparent's Day. Just seeing the children teaching their grandparents how to play math games or reading stories to them always warms my heart.”
- “Max K. getting the Morehead Cain Scholarship and Multi O. receiving the Barnes Scholarship.”
- “My students surprising the children in The Experiential School with reading stories and and treats.”
- “I received an email from the mother of a student from years ago. I had not seen or heard from her in years. She and her son had been having a deep discussion about many worldly topics and she wanted to share what her son said during their conversation...
"Mom, an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind."
I said, "Wow, That's awesome. Where did you hear that?!"
He said, "It was a quote by Mahatma Gandhi from Mrs. Oman's room up on the wall."
All I want to say is what you do DOES make a difference. Years later, my son remembers. And it is meaningful. Keep up the great work!!’
This was a student who was so mathematically gifted and I've always wondered if I gave him what he needed at the time. Did I challenge him enough? Did he grow as much as I wanted him to? I guess he did… but not necessarily in only the subject areas I was focusing so much on. Our students are much more than the readers, writers, scientists and mathematicians we want them to be. They are our future decision makers and leaders. The seeds we plant in them may not always sprout in the years we have them, but it is our job to keep planting anyway.
Something so beautiful about these “goose bump” moments is that they are stories shared by teachers from The Experiential School through Upper School. They represent all of the core values of Shorecrest: Responsibility, Respect, Integrity, Knowledge and Compassion. They also represent the power and strength of community. A community where teachers inspire children, and children inspire teachers. We often take for granted the things that we are surrounded by every day. They become a part of our daily experience and we may forget just how special they are… until they are gone.
Asking our teachers to share their “goose bump” experiences gave us the opportunity to document them and reflect on the value of the Shorecrest experience. I have had many of them during my seven years as a member of this community. I plan to write them down; to catalog them - and I encourage you, if you are so inclined, to do the same. When we document and reflect on our “goose bump moments” we realize that these are the things in our lives that inspire us most.
