SCCTC Director's Blog

It’s amazing to me how much small actions can influence our lives and the lives of our students – and how often little problems bring down their houses. For instance, a friendship or a seemingly strong relationship is often doomed by the weight of several small actions. As the saying goes, “It was the straw that broke the camel’s back.” The same is true in education. We are more likely to “give up” on students because of a series of small incidents rather than one big one.

You must never discount how important your every action is, big and small alike. You also need to be aware how VITAL every contact and encounter is and how much others recognize and appreciate small acts of kindness, concern, assistance, consideration, and appreciation. Someone may think you are the best person in the world just because you say “hi” to them every day. Or they may think you’re not a good person because you never acknowledge their presence.

We need to remember this possible reality the next time we choose not to see a student we pass in the halls, not to take the time to ask a student who has been out sick how they are feeling, or not to console a student who is having a bad day or fails a test. Even the little things we do does make a difference. Positive and caring gestures that aren’t expected are a great surprise to people and generate good feelings towards you.

We constantly tell our students to “extend themselves” and to show consideration. Are we doing that ourselves? We need to be sure we are modeling what we tell our students to do. Don’t think that people are not altered in some way by every contact you have and every action you take with them. The more good things that happen to students and colleagues, the more likely they are to return the kindness.

This is the influence our actions have on a daily basis – and how we can make a difference in the lives of our students and colleagues. If we continually respond to the big need, big challenge, or big problem in a professional and helpful way, our influence and reputation will grow. It all adds up!

We are all familiar with The Tortoise and the Hare Story. As per the story, the hare and tortoise decided on a race to settle an argument – the hare seeing he was far ahead, decided to rest and sleep and the tortoise meanwhile ran steadily and won the race. We remember the lesson from it too – slow and steady wins the race. Had the hare not been so relaxed and over confident he would not have lost.

But the story did not end there - The hare did some thinking and realized his folly. He challenged the tortoise to another race. This time, the hare went all out and ran without stopping from start to finish. He won by several miles. The moral of the story? It is good to be steady but being fast and steady is even better than being slow and steady. So it will be great if you can combine speed with consistency. But it doesn't end here.

The tortoise also did some thinking this time and realized that there was no way he could beat the hare in a race the way it was held. He thought for a while, and then challenged the hare to another race, but on slightly different route. The hare agreed. The hare ran at full speed until he came to a broad river. The finishing line was a couple of miles on the other side. The hare sat there wondering what to do.

In the meantime the tortoise trundled along, got into the river, swam to the opposite bank, continued walking and finished the race. The moral of the story? First identify your strength and then change the playing field to suit your core competency.

But the story still hasn't ended. The hare and the tortoise, by the end of the races, had become pretty good friends and they did some thinking together. Both realized that the last race could have been run much better. So they decided to do the last race again, but to run as a team this time. This time the hare carried the tortoise until they reached the river. There, the tortoise took over and swam across with the hare on his back. On the opposite bank, the hare again carried the tortoise and they reached the finishing line together.

They both felt a greater sense of satisfaction than they'd felt earlier. The moral of the story? It's good to be individually brilliant and to have strong core competencies; but unless you're able to work as a team and use each other’s strengths, you'll always perform below par. ¬

To sum up, the story of the hare and tortoise teaches us many things:

• That fast and consistent will always beat slow and steady;
• Work to your strengths and competencies.
• Pooling resources and working as a team will always beat individual performers.
• Never give up when faced with failure.
• And finally, compete against the situation. Not against a rival.

Here at the CTC, we will continue to work as a great team!!