Sometimes you have an audience of a thousand, sometimes you sit down and have a conversation with one person. Today it was the latter and I would have had it no other way.
A student who completed our Project REWIND program last fall sent me an email this week, expressing that he was dealing with some struggles recently and that he would like to talk with me. I invited him to come by the office today to talk.
He stopped by, and for the next 90 minutes, we discussed his recent obstacles. He told me about what he’s been going through, where he’s at, and where he’d like to be. We talked about goals, having a plan, and the importance of having a phone full of trustworthy people whom you can call at any time if you are struggling or tempted to revert to unhealthy past behaviors.
Most of all, I let him talk and I just listened. The answers to his questions were often in his own words… I just needed to shine a spotlight on them and get him to realize that he was already formulating his own plan. We organized the plan, added some pieces to it, and confirmed it.
When I was done, I gave him my Hope Dealer chip from Plus P Productions. I explained the story behind it, mentioned the fact that it was meant to be passed on, and told him I had been waiting for the right person to give it to. I told him that I genuinely believed, KNEW even, that one day he would be the one to pass that chip, hope, and experience on to someone else. He’s an awesome person. He just needed a plan.
When we were done, he teared up and told me that our conversation was exactly what he needed. I told him I was glad to help and was honored that he asked me. But I asked him why he asked me in particular to talk about what he’s going through.
He replied, “Because I knew you would listen. I knew you would help and not make me feel ashamed. I knew you’d give me hope.”
Every single one of us has the ability to do the very same thing for someone. All it requires is willingness.