My Heart Hurts (Part 1)

This post is a bit unconventional, but one I felt needed to be shared. It hasn’t been the best of days today, and I am left with a heart that is breaking for my students. What follows is the struggle I have on a near daily basis:

My heart hurts knowing the hardships and struggles I see some of my students going through. 

My heart hurts knowing that some of my students live in darkness, and I maybe the only sliver of light for them to see. 

My heart hurts knowing that I can’t swoop in and protect some of my students from what they are going through. 

My heart hurts knowing that some of my students are making poor choices, because outside of my classroom, they don’t have the support or the guidance they need to make better choices. 

My heart hurts knowing the potential each of my students have and watching some of them throw it away because of situations beyond their control. 

My heart hurts because some of my students don’t know what love, support, and appreciation feel like. 

My heart hurts knowing that some of my students are not a priority outside of the classroom. 

My heart hurts because some of my students bring the baggage of other people’s choices to school. 

My heart hurts knowing that some of my students go home to an empty house or no house at all. 

My heart hurts knowing that my classroom is a safer place for some of my students than their own home. 

My heart hurts because I see some of my students crying out for love and time from those closest to them and getting no answer. 

My heart hurts because all I want is the best for my students, but outside of the classroom some do not reciprocate the feeling.

My heart hurts knowing that some of my students have to grow up sooner than they should.

My heart hurts knowing that some of my students emotional and mental health is declining because of the actions of those closest to them.

My heart hurts because I invest countless hours speaking life and truth into my students to have some of them go home and get it ripped out of them.

My heart hurts knowing that some of my students are not a priority in their own home.

My heart hurts knowing that some of my students are hungry because of the actions and choices of others in their life.

My heart hurts knowing that all of my students are gifted, talented, and passionate but some are told that they won’t amount to anything.

My heart hurts knowing that my classroom may be the only place where some of my students are shown love, respect, and encouragement.

My heart hurts knowing that some of my students go to bed with tears in their eyes instead of a smile on their face.

My heart hurts knowing that even though they walked out of my classroom with their head held high, some of my students will return with it hanging low.

My heart hurts knowing that some of my students go home to people who will make excuses for their bad choices rather than choose to be a better example for them to follow.

My heart hurts because many days I feel alone in helping my students become better at this thing called life.