The Gesture

The work needed to make a real connection with a student is well worth the effort.

The Player(s)

I recognized [the student] immediately. Even though it was after hours away from school, some students you just don’t miss, or mistake. [the student] was running around excitedly, having an “official” role to play. You could almost see the giddiness in [the student]’s eyes and hear it in [the student]’s voice.

The Setup

It was Friday night. That means high school football. I had gone to the game and was visiting the concession stand. The line was long and I waited for a while. I happened to be standing near the pathway between the restrooms and the remainder of the stadium. [the student] wasn’t the only one on this year’s roster to be running around the stadium.

The Sequence

I do this thing with my students. I’ve done it for years. It’s a hand gesture that I do when I’m out and about – on the playground, in the cafeteria, in the community, in the hallway. I’ve had students who left school 15 years ago see me out and about and flash the gesture. It’s a way I’ve discovered to acknowledge their presence. At school it’s no big deal. But when I flash the gesture at a restaurant, the smiles I get are huge.

[the student] was glad to see me. [the student] raced up to where I was, almost running into the gentleman standing behind me. [the student] was so proud because [the student] had finally begun to master this gesture and wanted to share it with me out in public. [the student]’s smile was contagious. The gentleman behind me had a confused and bemused look on his face, wondering at the interplay.

The Denouement

[the student] was so proud of [the student]’s efforts in mastering the gesture. I was very proud to be the recipient of [the student]’s joy at the accomplishment. [the student] and I chatted about the gesture, and other inconsequentials, until it was time for [the student] to join the rest of the group to play their part in the evening. My smile was undimmed for the rest of the evening.

The Moral

Students, like all of us, are looking to make a connection, real connections, with the people in their world. Just a little effort on my part, or the part of any adult, pays huge dividends.