Understanding
This guest post was written by staff member Cristian Silvestre, Grounds/ELA/Supervision.
HIS staff member Cristian Silvestre
“This is my first year working at Holbrook Indian School (HIS), but it is not my first experience with kids. Whether it’s been as a teacher, a camp counselor, or helping out with church programs, I've been working with kids since I was 14.
I am 27 years old, but I was once a kid myself. I often felt misunderstood growing up. When I did feel understood, it made me feel valued and loved. Because of that, understanding has always been very important to me. As a kid, I didn't necessarily want to be right all the time; I just wanted to understand and be understood. Working at HIS, I'm learning that—more than effective discipline, more than eagle-eyed supervision, more than anything—understanding the boys and girls that eat, sleep, and play here is the most important thing.
Everyone needs discipline. That is not in dispute. However, not all discipline works for everyone. I believe it is because discipline that is irrelevant to the person will not have the desired effect of modifying their behavior. For the most part, the way to discipline someone is to convince them to make the changes they want to make. In order to do that, one must have a deeper understanding of that person and their values and intentions.
“Working at HIS, I’m learning that—more than effective discipline, more than eagle-eyed supervision, more than anything—understanding the boys and girls that eat, sleep, and play here is the most important thing. ”
Many of these kids come from difficult backgrounds. Their values are askew, and their intentions are indistinct, if not entirely malformed. Working here has helped me understand these things, but I confess I still don't understand how best to help them. God must give me the wisdom and understanding I need to reach them for Christ. I may only supervise the students at meals, but there are plenty of opportunities to extend the hand of Christ to a student.
Let me paint a little picture for you. At 7 a.m., I arrive at the cafeteria. All the students arrive by 7:10. They sit at the tables they always sit at and talk with the friends they always talk with. I tell them a short story. Whichever table remembers yesterday's story gets released to get breakfast first. After breakfast and a short break, classes start. I supervise two reading classes in which the students are expected to read books and take tests on them. Then comes lunch. I sit in the same spot every day so I can have a good vantage point in the cafeteria.
“One day, a student sat across from me and unexpectedly said, ‘I cried today.’”
One day, a student sat across from me and unexpectedly said, “I cried today.” I was surprised because this student and I had not been close before and had not really interacted. We talked for a bit about it. They revealed that in their counseling session, they cried over their dad’s drinking problem, and they told me that they have had many arguments over it. Because I haven't experienced this myself, I wasn't too sure how to respond to them. I simply did my best to listen to and encourage them.
On another occasion, a different student asked me a question about loss. This is because they had lost their best friend to death recently. We talked for a while, but I still wasn't sure what to say or do. It’s in moments like these that I need to lift up a quick prayer to God for help.
“Jesus is needed here.”
Our Father in heaven has promised that He will give wisdom to the ones who ask for it in faith. Solomon asked for an understanding heart to rule God’s people. I believe it is our responsibility as faculty, adults, and former children to seek God’s understanding of these students and the wisdom to apply that understanding in such a way that it will eternally bless them. Please lift up one prayer now for everyone here at Holbrook Indian School. Jesus is needed here.”
