Attitude

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As a substitute bus driver I get a unique perspective on issues faced by our students. For instance. Put yourself in the shoes of this middle schooler. (that is either the best or worst metaphor for this story).

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I am picking up Stillwater Middle students in the Liberty neighborhood. I am running on time which is a problem for one child. In his rush to catch the bus, he left his shoes untied. That could be done later. On the sidewalk he accidentally steps out of a shoe. The neighbor's playful dog beats him to it and runs off. Oops! No time to chase. Quick! Back to the house for a full pair. He doesn't know that I am patient and would wait as his friends asked me to do. The best he can do is a pair of slippers by the front door. It would have to do. I got him and his bus mates to school on time, where he gave me these details and permission to share.

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This is the part that impressed me. This did not fluster him. He could appreciate the humor of what happened. Instead of looking back in a few years to laugh at the situation, he opted to do it now. That is the healthy attitude I like to see in anyone. And especially so in a middle school student.

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