I asked the teachers about the impact they felt that the COVID-19 pandemic had had on their students. The responses I received were weary and cautious, many teachers were worried for their student’s futures. They wondered whether their students had been irrevocably damaged by the last two years of isolation. Their responses were tinged with fear and uncertainty.\
The students on the other hands were bold. They were open. They saw the last two years as a speed bump, something to learn from perhaps but ultimately something to get on and move forward from. They were far beyond coping; they were already looking for ways to embrace the change thrust upon them and their communities. After all, they would one day become the adults of this world and I saw a certain fire in their eyes, the sort of determination that comes from the need to make sure that something like this horrific pandemic could never happen again.
I sat down with the headmaster from one of those schools and after a short discussion, we agreed that it would be useful for both the students and teachers if they focused on welcoming change rather than finding ways to just cope or tolerate the distress of the near past. We should encourage students to lead with their strengths and take a more active role in the rebuilding of our systems and societies.
This Knowledge series is born out of the insights I had received from the conversations I had with various students and teachers. Upon invitation, I would host an hour-long session for teachers at any institution, advising them on how they can “welcome change” and encourage their own students to keep their strengths in mind as they move into the new world.
