Red Room Where the Writers Are

 What makes a difference?  

Watching Beyond the Gates, a film about the genocide in Rwanda that took place in 1994 with a group of Anglicans last night, I heard one of the lead characters, Joe, a teacher, tell a BBC reporter that he went to Africa “to make a difference.”  He grew up privileged—with “everything.”  Teaching in Rwanda was his way of “giving back.”

Each day, he patted himself on the back for “making a difference.”

Until the genocide.

I recently read about a woman, a mother and ex-wife, who walks in the AVON Walk for Life each year because she believes that “for those two days she makes a difference.”  How do you make a difference for two days?  Like Joe, each year, she pats herself on the back for walking with her friends and “making a difference.”

What makes a difference?

My girlfriend, a neurologist, puts together a team and rides for MS each year.  As a neurologist, she takes care of patients in using both eastern and western methods.  She’s a yogini and incorporates those traditions in her treatment.  In addition, she rescues Alaskan Malamutes.  To top it off, she raised two amazing daughters – on her own. 

I’ve been thinking a lot about what makes a difference.

Last month, another girlfriend recruited over 200 volunteers for the annual Park City Kimball Arts Festival.  Those volunteers painted children’s faces, greeted 35,000 guests, poured drinks, and, even, took out trash.  Did they make a difference?   Yes.   Those volunteers made sure that everyone felt welcome in Park City that weekend. 

What makes a difference?

Reed, a student from my very first class of sixth graders, sent me a letter six years after he graduated from Hillcrest Elementary telling me “you are the best teacher I ever had.  Thank you for reading to us.” 

Going back to school, I need to figure out what makes a difference for all of my students.