What Inspires Me?

For this week's post for the Compelled Bloggers Community, we are to write about what inspires us. 

In general, I’m inspired by the underdog who overcomes adversity and achieves success. I’m inspired by the opportunity to be the change agent for the underdog, and I’m inspired by those who give of themselves to make someone else’s life better.

For the work that I do, I’m inspired by the students.

-The student who told me that she sleeps on the floor each night. Her family shares an apartment with relatives, and she doesn’t have a bedroom, bed, or dresser.

-My former athletes who are now “grown,” successful, happy, and with their own children and families.

-The students who generally go unnoticed by others.

-The angry student with a behavior plan who says, “I’m not good at math,” who agrees to meet with me after school every day until he gets caught up.

-The former student with dyslexia who allowed me to read his tests to him, to transcribe his papers, and read the ACT to him… who was admitted to Ole Miss as a result.

-The student who brought a gun to school and was planning to kill himself.

-The students who balance extracurricular activities and heavy academic loads and are successful at both.

-The former students who contact me via Facebook who tell me that I made a difference in their lives.

And there’s so many more individual stories to tell.

Most of all, I’m inspired by these two…..

I want them to have a happy and successful adult life built on a strong foundation, and I want the world to be a better place for them.