A conversation I will have (in a modified form) with a student

Dear Lisa,

I know this distance learning thing is so stressful. I completely understand the desire to just shut down when you get overwhelmed. I have been sleeping til one or two in the afternoon, and I can only blame it on jet lag for so long. But unfortunately, shutting down and not doing the classwork isn’t going to make it go away. It will only make things worse.

I’m going to make a checklist for you. You don’t have to do it all at once. You don’t have to complete it in one day. Take it piece by piece. The goal is progress, not perfection. This is actually good advice for life in general. I will probably take this advice myself. Someday.

I’m really glad to hear from you, and from your sister Hannah. How lucky you are to have a sister by your side to help you when things get rough! And I know the last year, moving to a new country, learning a THIRD language (or fourth? I can’t keep track with you kiddos) — it’s a LOT. I don’t tell you enough how much I admire you. All of you.

I’m so freakin’ proud of you!

So here’s what I want you to try. I want you to take a breath and read through the check list and instructions for the assignments. Not all at once. Pick an assignment and start there. Write down any and all questions you might have. Send them to me. Talk them over with Hannah. Sometimes it helps to talk things through with a person. They don’t have to answer. They just have to listen.

Pick just one thing and start. Even though I’m not in the same room (or even the same time zone), I am here in your corner, always.

Sincerely,

Ms. T