Knowing & Being Known (September 21, 2018)

Knowing & Being Known  ​

Willits's Weekly Wonderings One (4.3)

Good Afternoon-- 

A quick introduction to those of you receiving this email for the first time:  For the few last years, as an impetus to facilitate my own professional growth and heighten my connection to you, I strive to communicate via a “weekly” email, which reads more like a blog post (“Convert emails to blog” remains unchecked on my “summer to-do” list).  In an effort to be phonetically creative, I call my emails "Willits's Weekly Wonderings," (aka  as they are not much more than my own pontifications (i.e. personal/professional things I wonder/think about), and will be disclaimed as such accordingly. 

 

Taped to the outside of my door is a sign that reads, “I 💙  being a school counselor because . . .of new school years!”  Each new school year initiates a commitment to make this year better than last year--an opportunity to grow, learn, and improve.  I am grateful to be in an occupation that cycles, offering an annual motive for renewal.  Each year, I (re)commit to "rhythms" (i.e. goals).  I'm learning, one of the most valuable things I do is really a rather simple one--

 

Knowing every student's name and calling them by their name every time I see them.

 

​The value of this minor thing is reiterated each time I call a new 5th grader by their (correct) name.  On a deeper level, I believe in the 

 

​power of knowing and being known​

 

and believe by calling each middle school student I see by their name, what I am communicating, albeit indirectly and subtlety, is:

 

You are known; You are cared for; You are valued.​

 

A former colleague and close friend of mine ascribes to the core belief that knowing implicates caring--meaning your capacity to care for someone/something is dependent in part by the depth of your knowledge of that someone/something; and the more you know, the more you are able to care.  I have grown to ascribe to the same belief.  Of course your student's name is the first, smallest thing I hope to learn about them, but I hope it initiates an opportunity to learn more about them and as I learn more, I am able to care more. 

I love being your student's school counselor.  If there is something you want me to know to do it better, please hit "reply."

Grant W. Willits

5-8 School Counselor

(712)722-3783 (x2120)