Education

EDUCATION

EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE SOMEBODY By Cory Dobbs, Ed.D., PVSchools and he said, ‘Yes.’ After he was done he started washing windows to make $10 and was very gratewalking away, not even asking for money. This ful. He gave me a hug and I could see other people

Few things hold the power to render a person took me by surprise. But I felt he did a service and staring, but I didn’t mind. I helped the man out with invisible. Homelessness is one of them. should be rewarded. what I could. As amazing as that felt, what hapAs a homeless person confronts society’s pened after made me feel so much happier. People perception of their worth, they experience a radical I called him over to pay him. His eyes opened wide would go up to him and give him money without shift in their identity. They struggle with basic life and I could just see the joy on his face. I checked him doing anything. Some of them were the same questions such as who they are and what the future my wallet and all I had was a $10 bill. My first people who were yelling at him. That’s when I realwill bring. thought was ‘$10 for a simple window wash seems ized sometimes all it takes is just one person to start too much,’ but I looked at the bigger picture. Do I something, and I could be that first person.” There isn’t a person in the world who doesn’t want need that $10 more than he does? And my answer to be someone, to have significance and be con- was no. I felt he needed it more than I did. So I To be a person of influence, you simply need to sidered worthy and valued by others. Everybody gave it to him and he said that it was too much and care about people. Everybody needs somebody to wants to be somebody. he couldn’t accept it. But I insisted. The look on his connect with and help them grow. face will be something I’ll never forget.” “One day I was putting gas in my car when I wit- –S.L., Student-Athlete “I felt for that man. And even though I’ve never nessed a homeless man asking if he could wash car been homeless or put in the position he was in, I windows for money. People would yell at him and Almost everyone knows what it feels like to be could relate to him.” push him away. accepted, connected, and liked—and what it feels like to be rejected, judged, and outside the group. Everybody wants to be somebody. Today, take a As he walked towards me with his head down, I When people feel disconnected, they feel a sense long look at everyone you encounter and help them was expecting him to ask to wash my windows. I of worthlessness. be the somebody they want to become. Once this was going to say yes, but he kept walking. As he becomes a fundamental way of viewing others you passed me, I asked if he could wash my windows “He told me it would take about 2-3 days worth of meet, you will become a person of influence.

A place for young minds

The Smart Choice.

PVSchools provides a robust and engaging educational experience, in a technology-rich environment, to ensure students are not only college and career ready, but prepared for life in the 21st century.

To get your children started on their journey of excellence and to explore our Pre-K through 12th-Grade options,

visit PVSchools.net