In the news: It's the little things

I read Dan Casey's column today about public school teachers buying supplies out of pocket for their students.  Friends know about my excitement over new "school supplies," which I really should call "office supplies" at my age. 

I donate to charity when I can.  My friends would know that normally means animal organizations, supporting the welfare and adoption of furry critters.  One of my hidden talents is being a guinea pig whisperer. 

Each year, the university does a school supply drive in late July/early August.  I've always thought about how excited I was for a new year of school once I got my new Trapper Keeper, Lisa Frank stickers, and cute magnets for my locker. At that age, it never occurred to me that other students didn't always have that option.  My parents weren't wealthy, but I always had new school supplies each year.  The more I've worked at a university, the more often I think about opportunities and how some students just don't have the advantages of others.  And what obstacle, small or large, will be the one thing that causes them to finally give up?

At what age do kids start noticing that they aren't "like" other kids?  When do they start noticing that they don't have the new notebook or a brand new pack of pencils?  When they realize that they don't have a decent pair of socks or shoes?  In the column today, it mentioned how teachers were buying basic necessities for their students which went much further than school supplies.  They are buying socks and toothbrushes.  It wasn't mentioned, but I suspect that would also include things like winter coats. 

School is hard enough, but can you imagine what it would feel like to not even have the basic necessities to get through the day?  At what point do kids give up?  And if they give up early on, what happens to their future? 

I had a quick conversation with one of our faculty members yesterday.  We talked about student motivation and how some students seem to be willing to hang in there when a lot of others would give up.  I wish I could bottle that motivation and distribute it.  Finding motivation, confidence, and your voice .... all three things I've thought a lot about over the last year or so.

If you want to help out the teacher mentioned in the column, she has a GoFundMe page at:  www.gofundme.com/backtoschoolsmiles.