Teacher Interviews [reflection]
Loneliness does not exist between the walls of W.G. Davis Sr. P.S. - the rainbow lockers radiating more than your recommended daily intake of positivity. The flashing grins of the white cement walls and the smooth feel of the brick - our school is old and new at the same time - comfortable yet unpredictable. Anyone to claim that it was just them against the world clearly has never had a conversation with one of the teachers at Davis. And, when I received the chance to, I learned many new things about a subject that holds importance to each and every person. Often, students are under so much pressure at school that they do not see the other side of the situation - that their teachers, most of the time, are doing their best to ensure that stress levels are as minimal as possible. Talking to Mr. Campbell - a former professional athlete - taught me that, even athleticism is not possible without positive mental health. Physical health and mental health can not be compared, yet go hand in hand when it comes to our well-being. Right after this interview, I went to talk to Mrs. Sam - who encourages second chances in the classroom. She stresses the belief that nobody is perfect, however, in order to achieve your best, you need to have more than one opportunity. The interviews ended with a conversation with Mrs. Strong. Being one of her former students, I was very aware of her teaching style, and how much importance the act of reflecting holds in her classroom. We spent a great deal of time discussing the cruciality of focusing on your actions that caused you happiness just as much as the actions that you wish you could change. There is a fine line between dwelling on your mistake and taking it as a learning opportunity, and the act of reflecting helps to ensure that this line is not crossed. Overall, the teacher interviews developed my perspective on mental health - and taught me that there are always people willing to listen - you just need to be willing to talk.