@msbsmith : I have students from some of the poorest backgrounds in the US. I bounce, sing, chant, sing opera, even one time this white boy rapped to keep my student's attention... But the hardest challenge I have is to keep them motivated as they only see me a couple hours a week, and the rest of the time their families, employers and friends do a great deal to make them question themselves...
But I suppose the best thing I can do is to simply tell them that I grew up in the same situation. That I followed my grandmother's words of wisdom and "set my goals and just figured out how to get there" and I've lived all of my goals, finished my bucket list, worked on three continents and have degrees from three countries... and I am still the person who grew up in backwoods MS... just a bit more educated...
And sometimes it works... BUT it is hard for them to truly understand.
BC Karrh
