Because every person is created in the image of God, they hold dignity and value. Every day, we have the opportunity to impact students’ lives for the better. We become trusted adults who aren’t afraid to speak in grace and truth. We create spaces where students know they are seen, valued, and worthy of being heard.
When difficult conversations arise, we listen with our whole bodies. We communicate that students matter not only through our words, but through our attention, our posture, and our presence.
At 316, a student might yell repeatedly for a snack. Instead of simply responding to the volume, we can calmly ask, “How would you ask calmly and confidently?” This isn’t about withholding a snack or demanding perfect behavior. It’s about helping the student recognize that they are already seen and heard. Their voice has value without needing to be louder than everyone else’s.
For many students, yelling may be what they’ve learned. At home, they may have to raise their voice in order to be heard by their family members. At school, they might act out in class to get a teacher’s attention. In their friend group, they might feel pressure to be the funniest, the toughest, or the loudest just to belong. Performance can begin to feel like the price of being noticed.
I want the students to know something different: they already are important. They already hold value. They do not have to perform, achieve, or compete for our attention. Their worth is not something to be earned, but something they already hold.
So we acknowledge their need for a delicious afterschool snack and meet it, while teaching them an important life skill, and showing them the love of Christ in a simple response.
This work may not always feel glamorous, but it is deeply meaningful. Every interaction is an opportunity to build trust, instill confidence, and remind a young person that they are valued.
