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Writer's pictureS.A.G.E. Vision

The Power of Hope

Updated: Oct 19



At the start of each school year, the mark and memories of September 11th come upon us quickly. As the excitement and anticipation of a new year fills the air, a jolt of reality hits as we approach the unforgettable day our country was attacked. Being twenty-three years younger and newly hired teachers, we will never forget looking out at our students with uncertainty as we attempted to prepare them for their journey home. We had no idea how their lives would be affected or, for that matter, ours. All we knew was that the unimaginable had happened and that many lives would be forever changed.


Throughout history, people have vividly shared their whereabouts and memories of specific moments in time when catastrophic moments occurred. For us, on this terrifying day, we were in our hometown, at our home school, Barton Elementary, in Patchogue, New York. We had family in the city, students in our care, and an awareness about us that could not quite grasp but yet certainly understood that we were in the midst of a life-changing event, touching upon all categories of history.


Across our nation and in various educational settings, 9/11 has been recognized in many different ways. Respectable moments of silence are had at the time of impact when the planes crashed into the North and South Towers. Frozen for that moment, we observe our eight to ten-year-old learners standing silently in their red, white, and blue attire in honor of a day known as a National Day of Service and Remembrance. The task we, as facilitators, are faced with rests in connecting their young minds to an event that is so horrific and far beyond their developmental comprehension.


Over the years, we've shared, The Survivor Tree with our classes, which tells the story of the lonely pear tree that survived the collapse of the Twin Towers. As a means to inspire the Power of Hope in overcoming obstacles throughout times of darkness, we ask learners to reflect upon what they believe the tree can teach us. By deeply connecting with the symbolism of this well-loved poem, they’re then asked to compose and depict messages of hope on their survivor leaf. Giving them time to think about attributes of resiliency and life lessons harnessed ignites a sense of inspiration. They begin shifting their thinking about ways obstacles experienced can indeed be overcome. Highlighted moments observed were listening in as cohorts discussed the ripple effect kindness can have on the world, along with the leaves they proudly shared and placed around our tree.


The beauty of children is that they live in the present. They have this unbelievable ability to focus on the here and now. Yet, at the same time, while honoring and traveling back to the real-life events of September 11th, they were moved forward with a vision of hope for the future. Throughout both journeys, environments of creative thought and reflection impacted them by shaping the attributes of lifelong learning. In developing a sense of what it truly means to persevere, we can only hope that when challenges arise, they can reach inward with the attributes necessary to overcome adversity. As we reflect upon this past month and years of remembrance, may these small, insightful inspirations remind us of the light that shines brightly in the hearts of those who will never be forgotten.





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