Ms. Mc I commend you on this passionate piece. I fully understand your point of view and the feeling of Awww that you express overalll in this articel. Today’s generation of middle, elementary, and high school kids are very rough. They guard themselves with a protective shield that holds back anyone who is not their peer or very close friend. This makes it hard to help them and to communicate our concern or care for them. They feel that the world is against them, and so they will not be able to overcome the challenges they live each day. This piece was both inspirational and touching. Thank you for helping me to remember that our students are just miniature versions of ourselves. They to have struggles to overcome, so we should listen more instead assuming that they know nothing.