Help Them Smile


"Alright, gotta go teach!"
"Okay, have fun!"
"Thanks :) "
"Help them smile!"

I've had several variations of this same exchange with my best friend during recent weeks.  She had the great privilege of visiting India a few weeks ago as a volunteer, and she fell in love with my students just as I did!  She knows how precious each child is here at Rising Star Outreach, and it warms my heart that she continues to care about their happiness even though she has returned home.

Having her loving reminders to "help them smile" is inspiring to me.  I admit that there are times where I become too focused on the lesson plan at hand that I overlook the child!  This is embarrassing to admit, but I'm sure I'm not alone in this.  Everything I do should be student centered. I'm not here to teach dance.  I'm not here to teach life skills.  I'm here to teach the students.  The beautiful thing about this though is that they teach me too.  It's a glorious exchange.  As I get closer to the end of my time here I'm sure I'll post about the many lessons I've learned, some specifically from the students!

There are times where helping the students smile is incredibly easy!  But, of course, there are times where it is painfully difficult.  I have found that one of the quickest ways to help them smile is to simply smile at them first!  Other times I have to be more creative with the ways I entertain them in order to help them smile or even laugh!  Some of the most rewarding smiles though are those that come at the end of a class when students feel that they have learned something new-- that they've accomplished a difficult task!  These are the smiles that are longer lasting and most fulfilling.

I'm grateful for my best friend and her kind reminder to "help them smile."  I hope to continue giving them reasons to smile during my last three weeks here.  They deserve it.

Pictured is Suba (Subasri), one of our Life Dance Troupe Members :)  She is probably my student that smiles the most!  Her love and kindness shines every single day through her radiant smile!  

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