​ATTENTION – PLEASE READ

Rather than share a success story about training, today, I need to acknowledge one of our own for something truly inspiring.

Kyle and I met up for an impromptu training session today at a playground.  Pretty standard stuff – push each other to our limits and beyond, find creative ways to tackle new obstacles, critique and debate, head home incredibly exhausted, etc.

But while we were there, a handful of young men showed up to play around on the equipment.  They were chaperoned by three other gentleman and it became quickly apparent that this was a group of boys with special needs.  They played hard and challenged each other to do some pretty impressive things and their monitors encouraged them and guided them through a number of fitness exercises and challenges.

Once or twice, Kyle and I stopped to watch and were impressed to see what these young men were capable of doing, especially given some of their physical and developmental restrictions.

So I turned to Kyle and said, “see, this is what I love about parkour.  It’s for everybody.  These could be future students of ours once the school opens.”

But apparently, this wasn’t soon enough for Kyle.

Without a word, he left my side and walked straight over to the group.  And without introduction, he immediately began critiquing one of the boys and challenged him to take his game to a new level.  The group circled around Kyle to watch and cheer on their friend.  By the time they left, they were all smiling and the boy was shaking his head in disbelief over the thing he just discovered he was able to do under Kyle’s guidance.

There was no condescension.  There was no watering down of the lesson based on some assumption that this young man wouldn’t be able to understand.  He was just another student, equal to so many who have come before, who Kyle needed to help without being asked and without expectation.  In fact, I am sure that this article will come as a surprise to him because the gravity of his actions will have slipped his notice.  But I certainly noticed.

There are a number of people throughout my family who have made careers out of helping people with disabilities and I’ve witnessed those people endure so many hardships, not the least of which includes unpredictable interaction with strangers that usually involves of a lot of apologizing and uncomfortable avoidance.

In short, there simply isn’t enough kindness in the world like what I saw from Kyle today.
I love to train with this man and I love to teach with him.  But I couldn’t be prouder of what I witnessed today and it makes me that much more excited for the future of our school.

PLEASE SHARE THIS ARTICLE.  This is what being a teacher is truly all about.
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