What We Can't Do

Kas talks about facing the fact that you can't save everyone. Transcript: Hi everyone, this is a tough topic, so I wanted you to hear this in my own voice. Something that has come up in a lot of conversations lately is how to reach out to those students who are completely MIA. The ones who aren’t showing up to class at all right now, who you know nothing about, who could be experiencing any number of difficulties and you just don’t know about them. I know that this is super hard to hear, but the odds are that you are probably going to have to let some of those students go. As a teacher, it is heartbreaking to not be able to serve every student, this is the core of our philosophy and fundamental to how we define personal success. But you have to face the facts that you are in an impossible situation. You are not being provided with the resources, support, or even guidance to do what you are being asked to do right now. I'm not saying to give up on a student who isn't showing up to class, or can't seem to make the technology work, but I am saying to not burn out trying to manage things that are truly outside of your control, and most importantly don't blame yourself. All of your students need you to be healthy and happy so that you can best serve and uplift them. I'm sure you've heard the saying that you need to put your own oxygen mask on first before you help the people around you, but it's a true saying. If you destroy yourself by banging your head against the wall, by trying to overcome impossible odds, you are not doing a service to anyone. First, care for yourself. Then care for the students you can reach. Then you can use whatever you have left after that to try to reach more students. It's brutal, and it's unfair, but it's where we are right now. This is a triage situation. You are doing the best you can with what you've got, and it's not your fault that you can't do more. Please, from me to you, take care of yourself. You've got this, and if you ever feel like you don't got this, we are here to help.