she was right

"No one here knows my name."

My heart sank. I had failed. Failed this student, failed my staff, failed the entire process.

Students can slip through the cracks. I know I'm not capable of carrying 110 children through a production, never mind a huge production of Wizard of Oz (our current main-stage show), but I still feel responsible. When this child said, in the third week of rehearsal, that no one in the group knew her name- ah!

The worst part was that she was right.

I am committed to my students. I want every one to leave every rehearsal knowing that our little theatre community is a safe haven for them. I need to know that our participants feel invested in, know they are believed in, know they have made friends here that they wouldn't have otherwise. And I know I can't do that alone, which is why I have a staff who are invested in these kids too. But it falls on me- ultimately these kids are my responsibility- and if I and the staff have fallen short of engaging every child, I have fallen short. Period.

We've done better since that rehearsal. I've lead many, if I may say, inspirational get-to-know-you type activities and the kids really are making more connections. I know that girl's and several other potential through-the-crack names. And I know the kids have learned them too. Today we had a student say "I feel like I am somebody, because everyone here knows me."

A mentor once told me "guilt is general and conviction is specific." I don't feel guilty about all of this. I am convicted though- convicted of my responsibility and my commitment to our students. They need to know they are "somebody"s.