Guest blogger Bruce Thompson

Trying times on the job

There are trying times in my job as a teacher at Ranch Ehrlo.  During my first two years teaching at Schaller School, there was one girl I taught who I really worried about.  When she left, I did not know what was going to happen to her; I thought she may not live very long because of her lifestyle.  She used to phone me to let him know how she was doing and in many cases it didn’t sound like she was doing very well.

And then this year, I ran into her early in the morning and she was on her way to her job.  I gave her a hug and she told me about how she was working full-time, had an apartment, and a car. She was doing so well from the last time we talked.

Different levels of success

In my experience, I believe that some people don’t realize that there are different levels of “success”.  Some youth leave Ranch Ehrlo, go off to University, and get a job and that is success.  We have others who obtain a job and live on their own and that is success.  For the girl I taught, compared to her previous life, where she didn’t have a chance, this is success.  I have seen her four times since and she continues to do well.  It is amazing to see.  She didn’t quit and she is doing well.

It may take awhile to “click”

Through my teaching experience at Ranch Ehrlo, I have come to recognize that it takes some youth longer than others do for things to “click”; to internalize and understand the lessons taught to them while at Ranch Ehrlo.  Nevertheless, the seed is planted and it is up to them how they choose to live their lives.  The kids have so much on their plate that they may not be attending to the lessons as much as they should be, but eventually reality sinks in.  I teach my students that they can attract more people using honey rather than vinegar; a metaphor for treating people well and acting with integrity.